Poland has openly supported India at a time when relations between New Delhi and Washington are becoming tense over India’s continued purchase of Russian oil. The US has warned that it could impose extremely high tariffs even up to 500 per cent on countries that keep buying Russian crude.
Polish Foreign Minister Radosaw Sikorski spoke in Paris after India joined the Weimar Triangle talks for the first time. He said he was happy to see India reducing its dependence on Russian oil.
“I expressed my satisfaction that India has reduced Russian oil imports because this is fuelling Putin’s war machine,” Sikorski said while standing next to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and other European leaders.
He added, “We can discuss it further when I travel to India next week.”
#BREAKING: Poland's Foreign Minister Radosław Tomasz Sikorski expresses "satisfaction" that "India has reduced its imports of Russian oil because it was fueling Putin's war machine." He also supported the conclusion of the India-EU Free Trade Agreement. He travels to India next… pic.twitter.com/WDbT5nycsg
— OSINT Spectator (@osint1117) January 7, 2026
Trump Clears Bill Allowing 500% Tariffs on Russian Oil Buyers
Sikorski’s comments come as ties between India and the US continue to cool. US President Donald Trump has already imposed heavy tariffs on Indian products. Now he has also approved a bipartisan bill that would allow Washington to impose tariffs of up to 500 per cent on countries that “knowingly purchase” Russian oil or uranium.
Republican Senator Lindsey Graham confirmed Trump’s approval after what he described as a “productive” meeting. He said the bill could be put to a vote as early as next week.
Earlier, Trump had slapped a 25 per cent reciprocal tariff on Indian goods and added another 25 per cent penalty because of India’s Russian oil purchases. This pushed total duties on some Indian exports to 50 per cent. Trump later warned that tariffs could rise “very quickly” and said Prime Minister Narendra Modi “knew I was not happy.”
Jaishankar Uses Europe Visit to Strengthen Global Partnerships
As US pressure increases, India is focusing on strengthening ties with Europe. During his visit, Jaishankar stressed the need for closer cooperation.
“What kind of world do we want to live in? What would be the norms and the other related issues?” he asked. He also said Europe plays a key role in global politics. “I think we can bring more stability both into the international economy and global politics. And that really is why I am here,” he said.
Jaishankar joined India’s first-ever meeting with the Weimar Triangle, holding discussions with France, Germany and Poland.
What Is the Weimar Triangle and Why It Matters
The Weimar Triangle was created in 1991 by France, Germany and Poland. It aims to strengthen political dialogue, security cooperation especially on Russia and Ukraine and economic and cultural relations within Europe.
Jaishankar said the talks were short but open. They covered India–EU ties, the Indo-Pacific region and the Ukraine war. He added that relations with the European Union and its member countries represent India’s “greatest unrealised potential.”
India Adjusts Its Russian Oil Imports Amid Sanctions Pressure
India has begun to change its energy strategy. According to the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy, Russia supplied between 27 per cent and nearly 39 per cent of India’s crude oil in 2025.
Imports peaked at 7.7 million tonnes in November, which was 34 per cent of India’s total crude intake. However, Russia’s share has now dropped below 25 per cent and could fall further.
Data from the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air shows that India’s daily purchases of Russian oil fell to 72.9 million euros in early January, down from 130.5 million euros in late November and 189 million euros in July 2023.
Indian Refiners Pause Russian Oil Buys
Major Indian refiners such as Reliance Industries, HPCL and MRPL have stopped buying Russian oil after new US sanctions. However, some companies are still purchasing oil from Russian suppliers that are not under sanctions.
Even with these reductions, India remains one of Russia’s largest oil buyers. Since the Ukraine war began in 2022, India has imported about 144 billion euros worth of Russian crude. This shows how carefully New Delhi is trying to balance energy needs with growing global political pressure.