Trump Labels Ukraine Conflict “Modi’s War,” But Facts Tell a Different Story

Washington/Tianjin | September 1, 2025 – From Alaska to Washington, U.S. President Donald Trump has been outspoken about ending the Russia-Ukraine conflict. His adviser Peter Navarro has gone further, controversially branding it “Narendra Modi’s War”—accusing India of sustaining Moscow’s war chest through discounted oil purchases.

Yet, beneath the rhetoric, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s sustained diplomacy paints a very different picture. Over the past month alone, Modi has spoken twice with both Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, urging a ceasefire and dialogue. Notably, he spoke with Zelenskyy shortly before meeting Putin at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Tianjin. Far from fuelling the conflict, Modi has positioned himself as a mediator, advancing his now-familiar maxim: “This is not the era of war.”

Modi’s Peace Push
On August 8, Modi urged Putin to end hostilities. Three days later, he relayed the same message to Zelenskyy. Following a meeting with Trump in Alaska, Putin reached out to Modi again on August 18. By August 30, Zelenskyy called Modi to signal readiness for a direct meeting with Putin. On September 1 in Tianjin, Modi and Putin met face-to-face, with Putin expected to visit India in December. The record suggests Modi is pursuing peace—not recognition.

Dissecting Trump’s Claims
Trump’s trade adviser Navarro has accused India of acting as a “global clearinghouse” or “oil laundromat” for Russian crude, justifying steep 25 percent secondary tariffs on Indian goods. But closer examination shows these claims to be exaggerated and, in many cases, misleading.

• Oil Market Stabiliser, Not War Profiteer: India’s purchase of Russian crude prevented a supply shock. With Russia accounting for nearly 10% of global supply, cutting purchases would have triggered soaring prices. As External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar quipped: “We softened the oil markets … managed global inflation. I’m still waiting for the thank you.”

• Fueling Ukraine, Not Russia: In July 2025, India became Ukraine’s largest diesel supplier, accounting for 15.5% of its imports, up from just 1.9% a year earlier. By Navarro’s logic, India is simultaneously funding Ukraine—a contradiction that undermines his argument.

• Currency and Payments: Transactions are conducted largely in non-dollar currencies such as the UAE dirham and Russian ruble, occasionally yuan. Claims that U.S. dollars directly bankroll Moscow through Indian purchases are unfounded.

• Legal Trade, Not Black Markets: Russian crude is not sanctioned like Iranian or Venezuelan oil. Sales fall under the G7 price-cap mechanism, keeping trade legal and transparent.

• Domestic Priority: Nearly 70% of refined fuel remains in India. Export-oriented refining is long-standing industrial policy, not a wartime scheme.

Strategic Context
India’s energy and trade policies have broader implications. While Washington accuses New Delhi of sustaining Russia, India has simultaneously deepened defence and technology partnerships with the U.S.—from co-producing GE jet engines to acquiring MQ-9 drones. Moreover, India is one of the few major powers actively balancing Chinese influence in Asia, directly serving U.S. strategic interests.

At the same time, India has not hesitated to diversify its partnerships. Its economy grew 7.8% in the last quarter—the fastest in the world—even amid Trump’s 50% tariff shock. By engaging Putin and Xi Jinping at the SCO, Modi is signalling India’s capacity to chart an independent, multi-aligned path.

The Bigger Picture
The U.S. has poured more than $134 billion into Ukraine’s defence. Yet, it punishes India for legal oil trade, while continuing its own transactions in Russian uranium and fertilisers. China and Turkey import significant Russian crude as well—but only India is targeted with punitive tariffs.

This selective outrage, critics argue, has more to do with Trump’s style of politics than with fact-based policymaking. By vilifying India, Trump risks undermining a vital strategic partnership at a time when Asia’s balance of power is shifting rapidly.

Conclusion
India has not bankrolled Russia—it has stabilised global energy markets, curbed inflation, and quietly pressed for peace. Modi’s approach may lack Trump’s headline-grabbing flair, but it carries the weight of pragmatism and diplomacy. In the contest between rhetoric and results, New Delhi’s path could prove the more effective one.