‘How do you feel?’: Lindsey Graham again blames India over Russian oil trade as Kyiv reels from deadly strikes; says it is ‘experiencing cost of supporting Putin’

File photograph: US Senator Lindsey Graham (Picture credit score: AP)

US Senator Lindsey Graham on Thursday renewed his warning to international locations buying Russian oil, instantly naming India as dealing with penalties for what he known as help to Moscow’s struggle machine.In a submit on X, Graham wrote, “India, China, Brazil and others who prop up Putin‘s war machine by buying cheap Russian oil: How do you feel right now that your purchases have resulted in innocent civilians, including children, being killed? India is experiencing the cost of supporting Putin. To the rest, you will soon, too.” His remarks got here after a barrage of Russian missile strikes on Kyiv on Thursday that killed a minimum of 23 folks and injured dozens.According to Euro News, the assault additionally broken the European Union’s diplomatic mission within the Ukrainian capital, sparking worldwide condemnation. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy described the strikes as “another massive attack against our cities and communities,” confirming that rescuers have been pulling survivors from the rubble of a residential constructing. “At least 8 people have already been confirmed dead. One of them is a child. My condolences to all their families and loved ones,” he stated in a submit on X.As per information company AFP, the strikes kind half of one of the deadliest assaults on Kyiv in current months, with authorities later elevating the toll to 23 lifeless, together with 4 kids. EU and British diplomatic missions, as nicely as workplaces of media organisations, have been additionally hit.Graham has repeatedly linked the continuation of the struggle in Ukraine to oil income from worldwide patrons. Speaking earlier on NBC’s Meet the Press, the senator stated US President Donald Trump was decided to finish the battle by focusing on Russia’s oil clients. “Without oil and gas revenue, Russia collapses… the whole goal is to crush his customers – India, China, Brazil,” Graham stated.His criticism coincides with mounting trade tensions between Washington and New Delhi. India has denounced new US tariffs of over 50 per cent on Indian items as “unjustified and unreasonable.” The commerce ministry acknowledged the brand new tariffs will trigger short-term ache in sectors such as textiles, chemical substances and equipment, although it maintained that the long-term impact on general trade and GDP can be restricted. Industry our bodies, it stated, have already raised considerations about liquidity pressures as orders sluggish and funds are delayed.Graham has beforehand warned European allies as nicely, accusing some nations of not directly shopping for Russian oil routed by way of India. In a submit earlier this month, he cautioned, “We are watching. This needs to stop now.”