Trump Targets India Twice at UNGA, Links It to Ukraine War

US President Donald Trump mentioned India twice in his speech at the United Nations General Assembly in New York on September 23, 2025, marking both a repeat of past claims and a surprising critique.

First, Trump reiterated his long-standing assertion that he “stopped a war” between India and Pakistan, counting it among seven global conflicts he claims to have prevented. This is a claim he has made over three dozen times, but rarely on such a prominent international platform. He also positioned this action as deserving of the Nobel Peace Prize, though India has maintained that it paused Operation Sindoor on Pakistan’s request, not due to US intervention.

Trump’s second reference to India was more pointed. He linked India, alongside China, to the ongoing war in Ukraine, claiming that both countries were funding Russia by continuing to purchase its oil. He urged European nations to impose stronger sanctions on Russia and those still buying its energy, calling such purchases “the engine feeding Putin’s war machine.”

The remarks come amid renewed trade talks between the US and India following recent cordial exchanges between Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. In August, Trump imposed an additional 25% tariff on Indian imports, bringing the total to 50%, as a measure to pressure New Delhi to stop buying Russian oil. India, however, has insisted it will continue to procure Russian oil for economic reasons, noting that the US had previously encouraged such purchases to stabilize global energy prices.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio reiterated that ending India’s Russian oil purchases remains central to Washington’s strategy, even as talks with New Delhi show “a lot of progress.” Trump’s comments mark a shift from recent conciliatory tones, including birthday greetings to Modi and positive exchanges earlier this month. Analysts note the unpredictability of Trump’s statements, suggesting that his approach toward India could swing either way in the future.