US Energy Secretary Chris Wright has urged India to reduce its reliance on discounted Russian crude and instead consider purchasing oil from the United States and other global suppliers. He stressed that Washington does not intend to punish New Delhi but wants greater alignment on the Ukraine conflict.
“India doesn’t need to buy Russian oil. They do so because it’s cheaper. But this money is funding someone who is killing thousands every week,” Wright told ANI at the New York Foreign Press Centre.
The US official said Washington would prefer India to work with them on crude purchases. “You can buy oil from every nation on the earth—just not Russian oil. That’s our position. America has oil to sell, so does everybody else,” he said.
Wright made clear that the US is not looking to penalize India. “We don’t want to punish India. We want to end the war, and we want to grow our relations with India,” he added.
The remarks follow the Trump administration’s move to impose 50% tariffs on Indian imports—25% of which are tied to New Delhi’s Russian crude purchases. President Donald Trump has accused India of “fueling Russia’s deadly attacks on Ukraine” by buying discounted oil.
Despite tensions, Wright highlighted India’s importance as a trading and energy partner. “We love India. We look forward to more energy trade and cooperation—whether in natural gas, coal, nuclear, or clean fuels. There’s a bright future there,” he said.
He emphasized that ending the Ukraine war remains a priority for the US, while also strengthening ties with India. “President Trump wants nothing more than this war to end. If we can work together to put maximum pressure on Russia, it would not only end the conflict but also strengthen our partnership,” Wright noted.
Wright recalled meeting Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar earlier this year, where discussions centered on expanding cooperation while addressing the challenge of sanctioned Russian oil reaching India, China, and Turkiye.
“The real friction is that Russian oil keeps finding buyers. That money funds the war. We want India alongside us in putting an end to it,” he concluded. (Source: NDTV)
