Whereas Donald Trump advocates for India to halt its purchases of Russian oil and fuel, citing the Ukraine struggle, he conveniently misses out European nations’ huge continued commerce with Moscow, a lot larger than New Delhi’s purchases. Here is a deep dive into what knowledge reveals.
US President has once more raked up the Russian oil buy by international locations the world over, claiming that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has assured him that India will cease shopping for oil from Moscow going ahead, a choice that Washington has lengthy been calling for causes that it helps Vladimir Putin fund his offensive on Ukraine.
The oil commerce can also be the rationale behind Trump slapping extra 25 per cent tariffs as penalty for Russian purchases, taking the full levies to a whopping 50 per cent. It’s noteworthy that India has maintained its stance of buying Russian oil, citing its shoppers’ curiosity and buying and selling decisions.
However hypocrisy lies in how Trump conveniently overlooks European nations’ continued commerce with Moscow on oil and pure fuel, which quantities to greater than 1 billion US {Dollars}, regardless of a sanctions imposed by the European.
Here is a breakdown of what Trump stated, India response and what knowledge reveals Europe billion greenback oil and fuel commerce with Russia and the US president overlooks whereas he lashes out at India.
Trump’s remarks on India-Russia commerce
Talking to reporters on the White Home on Wednesday, the US president stated that Modi had assured him that India would cease importing oil from Russia.
“He (PM Modi) assured me in the present day that they won’t be shopping for oil from Russia. That’s a big step. Subsequent, we’ll work to get China to do the identical,” Trump stated.
India’s response: ‘Precedence to safeguard pursuits’
Responding to Trump’s newest remarks, Ministry of Exterior Affairs stated India’s import insurance policies are guided by the nation’s goal to safeguard its pursuits.
“Making certain steady vitality costs and secured provides have been the dual targets of our vitality coverage,” MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated.
“This contains broad-basing our vitality sourcing and diversifying as applicable to satisfy market situations.”
“The place the US is worried, now we have for a few years sought to broaden our vitality procurement. This has steadily progressed within the final decade,” he stated.
Europe’s commerce numbers with Russia
In accordance with the Centre for Analysis on Power and Clear Air (CREA), which screens the bodily flows of fossil fuels, the European Union spent 1.15 billion euros (USD 1.35 billion) on Russian fossil fuels in August 2025.
The 5 largest importers accounted for 85 p.c of this complete, buying Russian oil and fuel price 979 million euros (USD 1.15 billion). The remaining 15 p.c got here from international locations together with Spain, Bulgaria, Romania, Italy, Greece, Croatia, Slovenia, Austria, and Poland.
The highest patrons of Russian vitality have been:
- Hungary: 416 million euros (USD 488 million)
- Slovakia: 275 million euros (USD 323 million)
- France: 157 million euros (USD 184 million)
- Netherlands: 65 million euros (USD 76 million)
- Belgium: 64 million euros (USD 75 million)
Hungary and Slovakia imported each Russian crude oil and pipeline fuel, whereas France, the Netherlands, and Belgium relied on liquefied pure fuel (LNG), which is cooled pure fuel transported by ship as an alternative of pipelines.
Heavy dependence on Russian oil, fuel
Oil (33 p.c) and pure fuel (24 p.c) collectively make up greater than half of Europe’s vitality provide. Coal accounts for 11.7 per cent, adopted by nuclear at 11.2 p.c, biofuels at 10.9 per cent, photo voltaic and wind at 6.1 p.c, and hydropower at 3.1 per cent.
To move these giant volumes, Europe is dependent upon an in depth pipeline community spanning 202,685 km as of 2023, in response to GlobalData.
A significant a part of this community is the Druzhba pipeline, one of many world’s longest oil pipelines, stretching 4,000 km (2,500 miles) with a capability of 1.2 to 1.4 million barrels per day. It carries oil from jap Russia via Belarus and Ukraine to Hungary and Slovakia.