A senior U.S. official has alleged that India is indirectly supporting Russia’s war in Ukraine by continuing to purchase Russian oil, as the Trump administration intensifies efforts to push New Delhi to reduce its energy ties with Moscow.

“What he (Trump) said very clearly is that it is not acceptable for India to continue financing this war by purchasing the oil from Russia,” Stephen Miller, deputy chief of staff at the White House and one of Trump’s most influential aides, said in an interview with Fox News.

India is the second-largest buyer of Russian oil after China, now sourcing over 30 percent of its crude imports from Moscow. Before the Ukraine war began in 2022, Russian oil accounted for just 1 percent of India’s imports, but purchases have surged since then, providing a vital revenue stream for the Kremlin despite Western sanctions.

Miller’s criticism was among the strongest yet by the Trump administration , which came after the US slapped a 25 percent tariff on Indian products on Friday as a result of its purchase of military equipment and energy from Russia. The Trump administration also threatened additional penalties if India continued its purchase of arms and oil from Russia.

“People will be shocked to learn that India is basically tied with China in purchasing Russian oil. That’s an astonishing fact,” Miller also said on the show.

The US aide tempered his criticism by noting Trump’s relationship with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, which he described as “tremendous”.

Last week, Trump also underscored the “friendship” with India on the day he announced the tariffs on Asia’s second-largest economy.