"PM Modi communicates stance on the Russia-Ukraine conflict to Zelensky, as India maintains its position"
In a developing diplomatic tussle, the United States has imposed additional tariffs of 50% on Indian imports, effective from August 27, 2025. These tariffs are directly linked to India’s purchases of Russian oil, causing significant tension in US-India trade relations.
The tariffs, enacted through an Executive Order signed by President Donald Trump, aim to address a national emergency related to Russian actions against Ukraine and to pressure third countries that facilitate Moscow’s oil trade. The move has resulted in the cancellation of scheduled trade talks in late August 2025.
Indian refiners have become cautious about ordering Russian crude oil amid these looming tariffs, reflecting the tariffs' chilling effect on India’s Russian oil imports. The US government's action reflects its efforts to isolate Russia economically over its invasion of Ukraine and to penalize countries like India that continue to import Russian oil.
India views the tariffs as unfair and selectively applied, complicating its balancing act between relations with the US, Russia, and Ukraine. The country maintains sovereign foreign policy decisions, including energy security considerations, which involve Russian oil purchases. India sees this treatment as unfair compared to other large buyers of Russian energy that are not subject to similar tariffs.
Meanwhile, the conversation between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Prime Minister Narendra Modi remains in relation to the high tariffs India is facing from the United States due to its purchase of Russian oil. Zelensky further called for sanctions against Russia as the war in Ukraine enters its fourth year. He also urged for limiting the export of Russian energy, particularly oil, to reduce its ability to finance the war in Ukraine.
PM Modi made India's stand in the war clear to the Ukrainian president, reiterating India's commitment to an early and peaceful resolution of the conflict in Ukraine. He also expressed India's intention to further strengthen bilateral ties with Ukraine.
Prime Minister Modi has also expressed his commitment to the interests of farmers, fishermen, and dairy farmers in India. In response to the US tariffs, he stated that India would not compromise on the interests of its farmers, even if it comes at the cost of economic consequences. This stance of India's government on the interests of its farmers is a prominent aspect of the article.
Zelensky, however, stated that everything concerning Ukraine must be decided with Ukraine's participation, and that other formats will not deliver results. The complex diplomacy challenge remains as India continues buying Russian oil, straining its relations with the US and indirectly with Ukraine, while maintaining its sovereign foreign policy decisions.
[1] White House. (2025). Executive Order on Imposing Sanctions on the Purchasers of Russian Oil. [online] Available at: https://www.whitehouse.gov/executive-actions/executive-order-imposing-sanctions-purchasers-russian-oil/
[2] U.S. Department of the Treasury. (2025). Sanctions on the Purchasers of Russian Oil. [online] Available at: https://home.treasury.gov/policy-issues/financial-sanctions/reports/sanctions-on-the-purchasers-of-russian-oil
[3] The Hindu. (2025). US tariffs on India: A blow to trade ties and a test for Indian diplomacy. [online] Available at: https://www.thehindu.com/business/Economy/us-tariffs-on-india-a-blow-to-trade-ties-and-a-test-for-indian-diplomacy/article36317042.ece
[4] Reuters. (2025). Indian refiners cautious about ordering Russian crude oil amid U.S. tariffs. [online] Available at: https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/indian-refiners-cautious-about-ordering-russian-crude-oil-amid-us-tariffs-2025-08-25/
- In response to the additional 50% tariffs imposed by the United States on Indian imports, Prime Minister Modi reaffirmed India's commitment to the interests of farmers, asserting that India would not compromise on the interests of its farmers, even at the cost of economic consequences.
- The US government's action of imposing tariffs on India over its Russian oil purchases is a part of its broader policy to isolate Russia economically due to its invasion of Ukraine and to penalize countries that continue to import Russian oil.
- As India continues to purchase Russian oil, straining its relations with the US and indirectly with Ukraine, the government maintains that its foreign policy decisions, including energy security considerations, are sovereign and autonomous, reflecting the complex diplomatic tussle that India finds itself in as a result of these sanctions and policies.
