Trump Blasts India and China at UNGA: ‘Primary Funders’ of Russia’s Ukraine War

By Priti
America News World
September 23, 2025

In a fiery speech at the United Nations General Assembly today, US President Donald Trump pointed fingers at India and China. He called them the “primary funders” of Russia’s war in Ukraine. Why? Because they keep buying Russian oil, he said. This claim is not new from Trump, but it comes at a tough time for US-India ties. The US has slapped big tariffs on Indian goods over the same issue. Trump’s words have sparked debate around the world.

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The event took place during the 80th session of the UNGA in New York. Trump spoke to world leaders about global problems. He started with a light moment. His teleprompter broke down. “Whoever is operating this teleprompter is in big trouble,” he joked. The room laughed. But soon, his tone turned serious. He talked about the Russia-Ukraine war, now in its fourth year. “China and India are the primary funders of the ongoing war by continuing to purchase Russian oil,” Trump declared. He added that the war would never have started if he were president back then.

Trump did not stop there. He turned to NATO countries, America’s key allies in Europe. “Inexcusably, even NATO countries have not cut off much Russian energy and Russian energy products,” he said. Trump warned Russia. If it does not agree to peace soon, the US is ready to hit back hard. “We are fully prepared to impose a very strong round of powerful tariffs,” he stated. These would target buyers of Russian goods and aim to stop the fighting fast. He urged Europe to join in. Without that, the tariffs won’t work well, he noted.

This speech repeats a “bombshell” claim Trump made before. Last month, after the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit, he said the US had “lost” India and Russia to “darkest China.” At that meeting, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Trump saw it as a sign of closer ties that hurt US interests. Now, at UNGA, he linked it straight to the Ukraine conflict. Russia’s oil sales to India and China bring in billions of dollars. That money helps fund Moscow’s military, Trump argues.

The timing is key. Just weeks ago, the US doubled tariffs on most Indian imports to 50 percent. It started with 25 percent in early August. Then, another 25 percent was added as punishment for buying Russian oil. This makes India’s tariffs some of the highest anywhere. India gets over 85 percent of its oil from imports. Russia now supplies about 42 percent of that, up from almost nothing before the war. The cheap Russian crude helps keep fuel prices low for India’s 1.4 billion people. But Washington sees it as helping Putin.

India is not happy. New Delhi calls the tariffs “unjustified and unreasonable.” Officials say they will protect national interests and economic security. Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar pointed out hypocrisy. Europe still trades a lot with Russia, he noted. The US even encouraged India to buy Russian oil early in the war to steady global prices. Now, things have changed. Prime Minister Modi has urged Indians to buy local goods. “All of us should follow the mantra of buying only ‘made in India’ goods,” he said recently. This could be a quiet pushback against the tariffs.

Experts say the tariffs hurt both sides. India exports textiles, gems, drugs, and more to the US, its biggest market. The levies could cost Indian jobs and slow growth. US firms rely on Indian parts too. One report shows US imports of fuel from India, made partly from Russian oil. That means American buyers feel the pinch indirectly. Trade talks between the US and India have stalled. A planned visit by US negotiators was canceled. Still, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said today, “India is very important for us.” He hopes to fix the sanctions issue soon.

Trump’s speech covered more ground. He slammed the UN itself. “Empty words” from the body do little, he claimed. He boasted about his past wins. Trump said he ended the “unendable” India-Pakistan conflict, plus six others. Fact-checkers dispute that. The 2019 India-Pakistan clash did cool down after US talks, but no full peace came. He also hit Iran hard. “Iran, the world’s top terror sponsor, can’t have nukes,” Trump said. On climate, he called it the “greatest con job” ever. He accused China of faking green efforts, though China leads in wind and solar power this year.

The Ukraine war drags on. Russia invaded in 2022. Western sanctions aimed to cripple Moscow’s economy. But oil sales to non-Western buyers like India and China keep cash flowing. India saved billions on discounted crude. Refineries like Reliance turn it into fuel sold worldwide, including to the US. Trump wants to change that. His tariff plan could spread to others, like Brazil, which faces 50 percent duties for different reasons. But will it work? Some say it pushes India closer to Russia and China.

Reactions poured in fast. On social media, users debated Trump’s words. One post fact-checked the claim with a video. “Really? Let’s fact-check this before the narrative spins out of control,” it said. News outlets like Times of India shared top quotes. “India, China funding Russia’s war,” one headline read. BharatKiBaat noted Trump’s ignore of US-Russia trade. OSINT Spectator highlighted the tariff threat.

This UNGA moment shows cracks in global ties. The US wants allies to shun Russia fully. But countries like India balance energy needs with diplomacy. As Trump pushes tariffs, the world watches. Will they force peace in Ukraine? Or strain friendships more? For now, the war goes on, fueled by oil and old grudges.

Trump ended strong. He praised American strength. “America First” still guides him. But in a room of 193 nations, his words echoed wide. India and China may respond soon. Stay tuned to America News World for updates.