In a pointed op-ed, Peter Navarro, former White House trade adviser, charged that India’s oil imports from Russia are undermining Western sanctions and “funding Putin’s war machine.”

He outlined a cycle where U.S. consumers buy Indian goods, India uses the dollars to pay for Russian oil, and Russian crude refined in India is sold worldwide — keeping Russia’s revenues intact despite sanctions.

Navarro warns that this arrangement allows Moscow to sustain its invasion of Ukraine, while Western taxpayers are forced to “spend tens of billions more” to shore up Kyiv’s defenses. He called on Washington to apply pressure on India’s energy lobby and impose penalties if necessary.

Close-up view: Data Talks

Scale and Trends of Indian Oil Imports from Russia:

• First half of 2025 (Jan–Jun): India imported approximately 1.75 million barrels per day (bpd) of Russian crude, up 1% year-over-year, making Russia the top supplier at roughly 35% of its total oil supply.
• August 2025: Russian oil imports climbed to 2 million bpd, representing about 38% of India’s total crude oil intake, according to Kpler data.
• 2024 Snapshot: Russia accounted for nearly 36% of India’s crude imports. At its peak during the year, this figure exceeded 40%. Average imports were around 1.8 million bpd, accounting for roughly 37% of Moscow’s total oil exports.

Global Scale:

• India became Russia’s largest oil buyer by 2024, surpassing even China.
• In July 2025, India stood as the second-largest purchaser of Russian fossil fuels, importing EUR 3.5 billion worth, of which 78% (about EUR 2.7 billion) was crude oil.
• Throughout the period, India relied heavily on spot markets for its oil purchases; however, in 2025, some state refiners paused orders as the discounts on Russian crude narrowed.

Why This Matters: Economics Meets Strategy

Peter Navarro's article in the Financial Times accuses India of “financing Putin's war machine” by importing discounted Russian oil, refining and reselling it, and using the dollars it earns to buy more Russian oil, and the data collected by Clash Report suggests that Navarro has a point.

Navarro argues that this trade relationship undermines Western sanctions and harms American taxpayers, something that US President Trump has recently highlighted. In particular, Navarro underlines that Russian oil accounts for more than 30% of India's crude oil imports. The data confirms this, with a 5% surplus.

President Trump has leveraged this dynamic by imposing 25% tariffs on Indian goods, with warnings of up to 50% tariffs tied to India’s Russian oil purchases.

India’s Defenses and Energy Strategy

Despite mounting international pressure, India remains steadfast. Government officials emphasize long-term contracts and energy security, with no directives issued to reduce purchases.

India’s Indian Oil Corp (IOC), for instance, reports that for Q1, Russian crude made up 22–23% of its processed volumes; for BPCL, it was 34%, with intentions to stabilize around 30–35% barring sanctions.

Analysts also warn that reducing Russian imports abruptly could lead to significant economic and strategic trade-offs, including higher import costs and disruptions to refining output.

If India were forced to sever its dependence on Russian oil, it could ripple across global markets. Russia’s exports to India (currently 1.75–2 million bpd) account for about 2% of global oil supply. Combined with other potential supply disruptions, global prices could spike.