In a post on X, Graham wrote, “India, China, Brazil and others who prop up Putin’s war machine by buying cheap Russian oil: How do you feel right now that your purchases have resulted in innocent civilians, including children, being killed? India is experiencing the cost of supporting Putin. To the rest, you will soon, too.”
It was the sharpest public rebuke yet, coming just hours after Russia unleashed one of the deadliest attacks on Kyiv in months.
Deadly strikes on Kyiv
According to officials in Ukraine, a combination of missiles and drones struck the capital early Thursday, killing at least 23 people and injuring dozens more. Four children were among the dead.
Euro News reported that the strikes also damaged the European Union’s diplomatic mission in Kyiv, sparking condemnation from European leaders. Britain and the EU summoned Russian envoys in protest.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned the assault, calling it “another massive attack against our cities and communities.” He confirmed rescuers were working through rubble to free survivors.
“At least 8 people have already been confirmed dead. One of them is a child. My condolences to all their families and loved ones,” Zelenskyy wrote on X in the hours immediately after the strike.
US special envoy Keith Kellogg added on X, “The targets? Not soldiers and weapons but residential areas in Kyiv—blasting civilian trains, the EU & British mission council offices, and innocent civilians.”
Graham’s warning
Graham has long tied the continuation of the war to oil revenue, arguing that Russia’s ability to fight depends on buyers outside the West. In an earlier appearance on NBC’s Meet the Press, he said, “Without oil and gas revenue, Russia collapses… the whole goal is to crush his customers – India, China, Brazil.”
Earlier this month he also cautioned European allies against indirectly buying Russian oil re-routed through India. “We are watching. This needs to stop now,” he warned in another post.
His latest remarks came as US President Donald Trump faced criticism over his attempts to broker peace. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Trump “was not happy about this news, but he was also not surprised,” citing the long-standing nature of the conflict.
Indian response to US tariffs
The senator’s comments land at a time when Washington and New Delhi are locked in a trade dispute. President Trump recently raised tariffs on Indian exports to more than 50 per cent, citing India’s ongoing imports of Russian crude.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar criticised the move sharply. “What we are concerned about is that red lines are primarily in the interest of our farmers and, to some extent, our small producers. So when people pronounce that we have succeeded or failed, we as a government are committed to defending the interests of our farmers and small producers. We are determined on that. That’s not something we can compromise,” Jaishankar said on Saturday.
Impact on exports and industry
The Commerce Ministry has acknowledged that the higher duties will hit exporters in sectors such as textiles, chemicals and machinery. A senior official told ANI, “It is understood that 50 per cent tariffs are going to impact trade, especially the sectors on which tariffs are there. They will suffer some trade loss in the US. There will be an impact on textiles, chemicals, machinery, etc. for the short run, but it will not be a very long-term loss.”
Industry bodies have flagged liquidity pressures as payments are delayed and orders slow down. “In the short run, their orders will slow down. The money that they have to get back from their exports will also slow down. So they will face some liquidity crunch and will be under financial strain to run their operations,” the official said.
According to an Associated Press estimate, the higher tariffs could affect $48.2 billion worth of Indian exports to the US, threatening jobs and profitability in key sectors.
The combination of Graham’s warning and the tariff dispute points to a deeper unease in ties between India and the US. Washington sees discounted Russian crude as fuelling the war in Ukraine. New Delhi, on the other hand, insists it must protect its farmers, producers and trade interests.
For now, both the war in Europe and the tariffs dispute are pressing against India at the same time.
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