New Delhi: A top Donald Trump aide has accused India of "financing" Russia's war against Ukraine by purchasing oil.

Reuters has reported that deputy chief of staff at the White House Stephen Miller said to Fox News on August 3, "What he (Trump) said very clearly is that it is not acceptable for India to continue financing this war by purchasing the oil from Russia."

Miller is one of the US president's top aides and his line thus marks one of the strongest rebukes of India's purchase of Russian oil.

"People will be shocked to learn that India is basically tied with China in purchasing Russian oil. That's an astonishing fact," Miller also said.

Last week, the US president had said that in addition to 25% tariffs, the US would levy a penalty on India from August 1. Since then, Indian refiners have paused purchases of Russian crude oil.

In July, Trump had threatened a 100% tariff on countries buying Russian oil if Moscow did not meet his deadline for striking a ceasefire with Kyiv.

Reuters on July 25 had cited three sources working with Indian refiners as saying they did not believe Trump would follow through on his threat.

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