Peter Navarro says India doesn’t need Russian oil, warns secondary tariffs are coming

India a 'Laundromat' for Kremlin: Trump Adviser Peter Navarro

White House trade adviser Peter Navarro has once again accused India of “perpetuating” the Ukraine war, alleging that New Delhi is acting as a “laundromat for the Kremlin” and warned that the secondary tariffs against Indian goods will kick in from August 27.

The comments come as India and Russia look to strengthen economic and defence ties. External affairs minister S Jaishankar met Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on August 21, days after he held a not-so-successful meeting with US President Donald Trump over the war in Ukraine.

Navarro, a close aide of US President Donald Trump, told reporters that it was “nonsense” to say that India needs Russian oil.

"India doesn't appear to want to recognise its role in the bloodshed. It simply doesn't. It's cosying up to Xi Jinping," he said.

#WATCH | US | White House Trade Adviser Peter Navarro says, "India doesn't appear to want to recognise its role in the bloodshed... It's cosying up to Xi Jinping... They don't need the (Russian) oil. It's a refining profiteering scheme. It's a laundromat for the Kremlin... I love… pic.twitter.com/sDi6jYzp6L

— ANI (@ANI) August 21, 2025

He accused India of refinery profiteering, asserting that the country does not need to import oil from Russia, adding that “India doesn't need the oil from Russia”.

"It's a refining profiteering scheme. It's a laundromat for the Kremlin. That's the reality of that," Navarro said.

However, Navarro balanced his criticism with commendation for India’s leadership, stating that “the road to peace runs through New Delhi”.

"I love India. Look, Modi is a great leader. But, please, please, India, look at what your role here is in the global economy. What you're doing right now is not creating peace, it's perpetuating the war," Navarro said.

"Just six days from now, you see -- I see that (the imposition of secondary tariffs on August 27) taking place. India doesn’t appear to want to recognise its role in the bloodshed. It simply doesn’t. It’s cosying up to Xi Jinping, that’s what it’s doing," Navarro mentioned.

"They have higher tariffs, Maharaja tariffs, higher non-tariff barriers. We run a massive trade deficit with them, so that hurts American workers, hurts American businesses. Then they use the money they get from us when they sell us stuff to buy Russian oil, which is processed by refiners, and they make a bunch of money there," he further added.

#WATCH | US | White House Trade Adviser Peter Navarro says, "In India, 25% tariffs were put in place because they cheat us on trade. Then 25% because of the Russian oil... In many ways, the road to peace runs through New Delhi..." He said, "Prior to Russia's invasion of Ukraine… pic.twitter.com/DxT7oUrpPV — ANI (@ANI) August 21, 2025

This is not the first time Navarro has slammed India for its energy ties with Russia. A few days ago, he criticised the country’s purchase of Russian crude in a piece for the Financial Times. He has been dismissive of the reasoning that India relies on Russian oil to meet its energy needs, saying it “does not make any sense.”

His remarks come as Jaishankar responded to US criticism over India's energy ties with Russia, stating that it was Washington that encouraged New Delhi to purchase Russian oil to help stabilise global energy prices.

(With agency inputs)