Trump claimed that India has substantially reduced its oil imports from Russia, attributing the shift to US tariff pressure. Graham said that tariffs imposed by the Trump administration were the “chief reason” India is now buying less Russian oil. As Trump spoke about sanctions hurting Russia, Graham added that the US had imposed a 25 per cent tariff on India for buying Russian oil. He has held multiple rounds of talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, including extending an invitation to Alaska, though these engagements have yet to yield tangible outcomes. Months earlier, Trump claimed that Prime Minister Modi had assured him India would stop buying Russian oil, calling it a “big step” towards increasing pressure on Moscow.

Source: The Telegraph January 05, 2026 05:36 UTC