Government sources on blaming India for the situation in Ukraine: Scapegoating won’t bring peace

As the Trump administration accuses New Delhi of indirectly funding Russia‘s war in Ukraine by continuing to purchase oil from Moscow, government sources told India Today that while demonizing India may serve political purposes, it does not serve facts or pave the way for peace.

In defiance of the Republican leader’s poll pledge to end the war, US President Donald Trump earlier this month announced 25% base tariffs on Indian imports and an additional 25% duty for “buying Russian oil,” putting money in Moscow’s coffers that fuels its war in Ukraine.

“Scapegoating cannot lead to peace. According to official sources, India has requested diplomacy at the UN. By purchasing Russian crude, “India kept markets stable, fuel affordable, and inflation under control for itself and for the world.” Politics may benefit from scapegoating India, but facts do not.

India has repeatedly criticized the West for its hypocrisy in purchasing energy from Russia, pointing to European energy imports from Russia and Chinese Oil Imports. Neither has experienced the same “tariff treatment” as India.

Meanwhile, the US continues to import Russian uranium, while Europe continues to purchase Russian gas. According to the sources, India behaved responsibly, adhered to international standards, and stopped costs from skyrocketing.

“India prevented a global crisis,” the sources added, emphasizing that it did not give Putin a financial lifeline and instead controlled global inflation by acquiring Russian crude. Almost 10% of the world’s oil comes from Russia. The price of crude could reach $200 per barrel if India ceased purchasing. India stabilized markets and benefited people around the world by maintaining oil flow.

They further denied that India was “profiteering” from Russian oil, claiming that there was no black market because Russian oil was not subject to the same sanctions as Venezuelan or Iranian oil. It is offered under a price cap that was put in place by the West to stop profiteering.

“The United States would have sanctioned Russian oil if it had intended to outlaw it. They cited the need for Russian oil in the market as the reason it didn’t.

India’s involvement in the conflict in Ukraine was stated by White House Trade Advisor Peter Navarro last week. He accused New Delhi of profiting from refineries and referred to them as a “laundromat” (self-service laundry) for Russian oil.

In actuality, India lowered fuel rates for its people despite the world oil price skyrocketing to $137 per barrel. According to the sources, the government taxed exports to stop profiteering, while state-run oil companies suffered losses of 21,000 crore rupees.

They insisted that India’s commerce is entirely legal and compliant with G7 and EU price-cap regulations, and that the US never requested that New Delhi cease purchasing Russian oil.

Despite the highest tariffs on its imports into the US, New Delhi retains friendly ties with Washington, even as India and Russia promise to continue their bilateral commercial alliance.

India is strengthening its defense relations with the Indo-Pacific and QUAD, purchasing MQ-9 drones, and collaborating with GE on jet engine production. The only significant Asian nation actively engaged in military conflict with China is India. They argued, “That is a direct strategic gain for the United States.”