Poland has backed India and expressed its satisfaction with New Delhi’s reduced purchases of Russian oil amid a standoff with the United States, where President Donald Trump ‘green-lit’ a bill proposing
for more tariffs on Indian goods.
Speaking at a press conference alongside External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and other European leaders during the Weimar Triangle grouping in Paris on Wednesday, Polish Foreign Minister Radosaw Sikorski said he was satisfied to see that India had cut back on Russian oil imports.
“I expressed my satisfaction regarding the reduction of imports of Russian oil to India, because this is financing the war machine of (Russian President Vladimir) Putin,’ he said. “It is something we can discuss later when I travel to India next week.”
He also emphasised the importance of a trade agreement between the European Union and India, praising Jaishankar for showing “flexibility”. This came after the EAM expressed optimism that 2026 will see an upswing in India’s ties with Europe and Luxembourg
Trump’s Tariffs On India
Sikorsi’s comments came amid strained trade relations between India and the United States over Washington’s 50% tariffs on Indian imports over Russian oil purchase. US Senator Lindsey Graham on Thursday said Trump has given a green light to the bipartisan Russia Sanctions Bill, which he said would give leverage against India, China and Brazil to stop them from purchasing Russian oil and punish countries “fueling Putin’s war machine”.
A provision in the bill allows the United States to raise tariffs to 500% over buying Russian oil. “This bill would give President Trump tremendous leverage against countries like China, India and Brazil to incentivize them to stop buying the cheap Russian oil that provides the financing for Putin’s bloodbath against Ukraine. I look forward to a strong bipartisan vote, hopefully as early as next week,” Graham said.
Earlier, President Trump had claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was unhappy over high tariffs imposed on India due to its purchases of Russian oil. Speaking at the House GOP Member Retreat, Trump said the tariff issue had created tension despite otherwise cordial ties.
“I have a very good relationship with PM Modi, but he is not happy with me as India is paying high tariffs. But now they have reduced it very substantially, buying oil from Russia,” Trump said.
India has earlier rejected Trump’s assertion that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had assured him that New Delhi would stop purchasing Russian oil, clarifying that no such conversation or assurance had taken place.
