Saturday, March 29, 2025
New York, September 24, 2025 – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has firmly dismissed U.S. President Donald Trump’s claim that India is helping to fund Russia’s war in Ukraine by purchasing its oil. In a recent interview, Zelensky stressed that India is largely supportive of Ukraine, despite certain disagreements in the energy sector, which he believes can be managed through dialogue.
The remarks come shortly after Trump, during his more than hour-long address to the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), accused both China and India of being the “main financiers” of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Trump declared, “China and India are the key countries buying Russian oil and funding this war,” further announcing that his administration had raised tariffs on Indian oil imports by 25%, bringing the total tariff to 50%—the highest in the world.
India has called the U.S. tariffs “unfair” and reiterated that, like any major economy, it will take all necessary measures to protect its national and economic interests. Indian officials maintain that oil imports from Russia are based on pragmatic economic choices rather than geopolitical alignment.
Zelensky, however, challenged Trump’s assertions. Speaking to Fox News, he responded to a journalist referencing Trump’s accusations by saying: “No, India is mostly with us. We do have some problems in the energy sector, but they are manageable. Europe should strengthen its relations with India rather than distance itself.” He added that he expects India’s position on Russian oil imports will evolve in the future.
In his UN speech, Trump had also criticized NATO countries for failing to impose stricter sanctions on Russian energy, claiming that some European nations were “funding a war against themselves” by continuing purchases. He warned that unless Russia agreed to a peace deal, Washington would impose “very, very tough tariffs” that would force Moscow to reconsider.
Since the beginning of the war, India has pursued a carefully balanced policy, calling for diplomacy and dialogue to resolve the conflict while maintaining oil imports from Russia at discounted rates. Western allies have expressed concern over these purchases, but India has consistently defended them as necessary to secure affordable energy for its population.
China, in contrast, has openly backed Russia, providing both political and economic support. Zelensky’s comments appear to draw a clear distinction between India’s cautious neutrality and China’s outright alignment with Moscow.
By urging Europe to forge stronger ties with India, Zelensky signaled his recognition of New Delhi’s growing role as a global power and a potential bridge in resolving the ongoing conflict.
