U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday responded to India pointing out ongoing U.S. trade with Russia, despite his criticism of New Delhi’s economic ties with Moscow.
“I don’t know anything about it, I’d have to check, but we’ll get back to you on that,” Trump said when asked by a reporter about the comparison.
Journalist: India says the U.S. buys Russian uranium and fertilizers while criticising India for buying Russian energy. Your response?
Trump: I don’t know anything about that. pic.twitter.com/RsYLrzREDP
— Shashank Mattoo (@MattooShashank) August 5, 2025
Tariff Tensions Escalate
Last week, Trump announced a 25% tariff on Indian imports, setting an August 1 deadline for implementation. He later threatened to raise tariffs further, accusing India of being “Russia’s largest buyer of energy, along with China.”
The move came even as the U.S. and India were engaged in ongoing talks to avoid a trade standoff.
India Pushes Back: “Unjustified and Unreasonable”
India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) hit back at Trump’s tariff threat by highlighting the U.S.’s own trade with Russia.
“Where the U.S. is concerned, it continues to import from Russia uranium hexafluoride for its nuclear industry, palladium for its EV industry, fertilisers as well as chemicals,” said MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal.
New Delhi labelled Trump’s stance as “unjustified and unreasonable”, and reaffirmed its commitment to safeguard national interests and economic security.
India’s Energy Policy Remains Firm
India has not issued any instructions for importers to cut ties with Russia, even under growing pressure. The MEA clarified that sourcing decisions are driven by domestic imperatives and global market dynamics.
“The sourcing of defence requirements is determined solely by our national security imperatives and strategic assessments. Similarly, the sourcing of our energy needs… we are guided by what is available in the markets and by prevailing global circumstances,” Jaiswal added in a press briefing.
India also emphasized that its bilateral relationships should not be judged through the lens of any third country.
