US President Donald Trump claimed he had no knowledge of the United States importing uranium and fertilisers from Russia on Tuesday. His comment came in response to a question about America’s ongoing trade with Moscow, especially as the US continues to criticise India for buying oil from Russia.
“I don’t know anything about it. I have to check…” Trump said, when asked about these imports.
American Imports from Russia Rise Quietly
Despite Washington’s tough stance on Russia, US imports from the country have quietly gone up. Between January and May this year, the United States imported goods worth $2.1 billion from Russia—23% more than the same period last year.
This rise includes a 37% increase in palladium, a 28% jump in uranium, and a 21% increase in fertilisers. However, compared to pre-war levels, total US imports from Russia are still down. In 2024, they dropped to $3 billion—almost 90% less than in 2021, the year before the Ukraine conflict began.
Trump Targets India Over Oil Trade with Russia
While US imports from Russia grow, Trump has criticised India for continuing its oil purchases from Moscow. He warned of imposing steep tariffs on Indian goods within 24 hours if the trade continues.
“India hasn’t been a fair trading partner. They do a lot of business with us, but we don’t get the same in return,” Trump told CNBC. He added, “We had settled on a 25 percent tariff, but I’m going to raise it significantly because they’re buying Russian oil and fueling the war machine.”
India Responds: Calls Tariff Threat ‘Unjustified’
India responded firmly on Monday. Officials called Trump’s tariff warning “unjustified and unreasonable.” They stated that the country would do whatever is necessary to protect its economic and national interests.
Randhir Jaiswal, spokesperson for India’s External Affairs Ministry, defended the country’s energy deals. He noted that Western countries, including the US and European Union, still maintain trade ties with Russia—yet they continue to criticise India.
“In this background, the targeting of India is unjustified. Like any major economy, India will act to protect its interests,” Jaiswal said.
