US Senator Lindsey Graham urges India to use its influence over Russia to end Ukraine conflict
Washington: US Senator Lindsey Graham, on Friday, has urged India to use its influence with Russia to help end the war in Ukraine, describing it as one of the most significant steps it could take to strengthen India–US ties.
“As I have been telling my friends in India, one of the most consequential things they could do to improve India–U.S. relations is to help President Trump end this bloodbath in Ukraine,” Graham said in a post on X.
He noted that India is “the second-largest purchaser of Putin’s cheap oil – the proceeds of which fuel his war machine.”
“I hope Prime Minister Modi emphasised to Putin in their recent phone call the need to end this war in Ukraine justly, honourably and forever,” he added.
“I have always believed India has influence in this matter, and I am hoping they will use it wisely,” Graham said.
His remarks came the same day Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he had a “very good and detailed” conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
“I thanked him for sharing the latest developments on Ukraine. We also reviewed the progress in our bilateral agenda, and reaffirmed our commitment to further deepen the India–Russia Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership. I look forward to hosting President Putin in India later this year,” Modi posted on X.
The comments came as US President Donald Trump called for imposing 100 per cent “secondary tariffs” on Moscow if Putin fails to end the conflict in Ukraine within 50 days. Senators Graham, a Republican from South Carolina, and Richard Blumenthal, a Democrat from Connecticut, have warned countries, including India, of economic sanctions if they continue trade with Russia.
Graham and Blumenthal are leading 85 co-sponsors of a bipartisan bill introduced earlier this year, which they say could serve as the “sledgehammer” Trump needs to end the conflict.
“We’ll continue to push for Senator Graham and my Russia sanctions bill with even tougher penalties to deter India, China, Brazil and others from fuelling Putin’s war machine. Congressional action sends a powerful message of support,” Blumenthal wrote on X.
In a joint statement, the senators accused China, India, Brazil and other nations of “propping up Putin’s war machine” by buying “cheap Russian oil and gas”, which they claim is financing the conflict. The proposal calls for tariffs of up to 500 per cent on any country aiding Russia.
ANI inputs