US President Donald Trump on Tuesday said he had no knowledge about America’s ongoing imports of uranium and fertilisers from Russia. His comments came after India pointed to these imports while defending its own trade ties with Moscow, which are facing growing criticism from Western countries.

When asked about the US continuing to buy uranium and chemical fertilisers from Russia, even as it pressures India over oil trade with Moscow, Trump said, “I don’t know anything about it. I have to check…”

US Imports from Russia Quietly Increase

Despite strong public opposition to Russia, US imports from the country have been rising. From January to May 2025, the United States imported goods worth $2.1 billion from Russia, marking a 23% increase compared to last year. The growth was led by:

• Palladium imports (up 37%)

• Uranium (up 28%)

• Fertilisers (up 21%)

Although this is a recovery from earlier lows, US imports from Russia are still down compared to pre-war levels. In 2024, total US goods imports from Russia fell to $3 billion, a 90% drop from 2021, the year before the Ukraine war began.

Trump Threatens India with Tariffs Over Russian Oil

Meanwhile, Trump took a tough stance against India. He warned of new tariffs in response to India’s continued purchase of oil from Russia.

He said during an interview with CNBC, “India hasn’t been a fair trading partner. They do a lot of business with us, but we don’t get the same in return.”

He added, “We had settled on a 25 percent tariff, but I’m going to raise it significantly because they’re buying Russian oil and fueling the war machine.”

India Rejects US Threat, Calls it Unfair

India responded sharply on Monday, calling the tariff threat “unjustified and unreasonable.” The government said it would do whatever is needed to protect the country’s economic interests and national security.

External affairs ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal criticised the US and Europe for targeting India over its energy imports. He also pointed out that many Western countries continue to trade with Russia despite the ongoing war in Ukraine.

He said, “In this background, the targeting of India is unjustified. Like any major economy, India will act to protect its interests.”