Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has defended India amid US President Donald Trump’s criticism, asserting that New Delhi is “mostly with Ukraine” despite concerns over Russian energy imports.
In an interview with Fox News, Zelensky responded to Trump’s remarks at the UN General Assembly where the US President labelled India and China as “primary funders” of the war in Ukraine due to their continued purchase of Russian oil.
“I think India, mostly, with us. Yes, we have questions with energy but I think President Trump can manage it,” Zelensky said, expressing hope that India would eventually reconsider its energy ties with Moscow.
He praised India’s growing engagement with Europe, stressing that Ukraine must “do everything not to withdraw India” from its partnership and predicted that New Delhi would shift its stance on Russian energy “sooner or later.”
On China, Zelensky was more critical, saying it would be “more difficult” to get Beijing to stop supporting Russia. “We don’t feel that China wants to finish this war,” he remarked, adding that Trump could play a key role in influencing Chinese President Xi Jinping’s approach.
Trump’s sharp criticism of India and China came just weeks after his administration imposed 50% tariffs on Indian imports, half of which were retaliatory duties and half linked to India’s energy trade with Russia — a move that has divided opinion within Washington.
