A senior adviser to US President Donald Trump on Monday accused India of effectively funding Russia's war in Ukraine by buying oil from Moscow, after Trump stepped up pressure on New Delhi to stop buying Russian oil, Reuters reported, quoted by BTA.
"What he (Trump) said very clearly is that it is not acceptable for India to continue to fund this war by buying oil from Russia," said Stephen Miller, deputy chief of staff at the White House and one of Trump's most influential aides.
Miller's criticism was some of the sharpest yet from the Trump administration regarding one of the main US partners in the Indo-Pacific region, points out Reuters.
"People will be shocked to learn that India is essentially tied to China in buying Russian oil. It's a staggering fact," Miller told Fox News.
The Indian embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to a request for comment, Reuters reported.
Indian government sources told Reuters on Saturday that Delhi would continue to buy oil from Moscow despite the U.S. threats.
A 25 percent tariff on Indian products went into effect on Friday as a result of purchases of military equipment and energy from Russia. Trump has also threatened 100 percent tariffs on U.S. imports from countries that buy Russian oil if Moscow does not reach a major peace deal with Ukraine.