Zelenskyy defends India ‘New Delhi on Kyiv side’ as Trump labels ‘primary funder of Russia war’

By Anjali Sharma

UNITED NATIONS – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Wednesday disagreed stated that New Delhi is largely on the side of Kyiv, hours after US President Donald Trump accused India of being one of the “primary funders” of Russia’s war in Ukraine.

“India is on our side,” Zelenskyy said during an interview with Fox News.

He acknowledged some issues related to India’s energy trade with Russia but described them as manageable.

“We do have problems on energy, but those can be managed. Europe must build strong ties with India. We must not withdraw from the Indians,” he added.

Zelenskyy made remarks after US President Trump launched a scathing attack on India and China during his speech at the UN accused the two nations of funding Russia’s war in Ukraine.

He also criticized NATO countries for their energy trade with Russia.

“China and India are the primary funders of the ongoing war by continuing to purchase Russian oil. But inexcusably, even NATO countries have not cut off much Russian energy and Russian energy products, which, as you know, I found out about two weeks ago, and I wasn’t happy. They’re funding the war against themselves,” Trump said.

He also warned that Washington is prepared to impose a “very strong round of powerful tariffs” and urged European allies to adopt similar measures.

He added “In the event that Russia is not ready to make a deal to end the war, then the United States is fully prepared to impose a very strong round of powerful tariffs, which would stop the bloodshed, I believe, very quickly. For those tariffs to be effective, European nations, all of you gathered here right now, would have to join us in adopting the exact same measures.”