- Zelenskyy claims India, China, Turkey assist Russian war economy.
- Urges nations to stop energy trade to end Ukraine conflict.
- India prioritizes energy security amid US sanctions on Russia.
United Nations/New Delhi: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Tuesday once again alleged that India, China and Turkey are assisting the Russian economy, claiming that their energy purchases ultimately help Moscow fund its war machine, similar allegations he has been levelling ever since the war escalated more than four years ago.
Zelenskyy, who was in New York City for the ongoing United Nations General Assembly session, spoke to The Wall Street Journal, where he claimed that Russia is basing its economy on India, Turkey and, sometimes, China.
Referring to the three countries as "guys"-- an informal way of addressing people-- he called on them to stop energy trade with Moscow in order to end the conflict.
"Russia is basing its economy on India. Sometimes Turkey and China. And it’s obvious if these guys stop their energy trade with Russia, then it will have to stop fighting the war," Zelenskyy told the WSJ host.
BREAKING: “Russia is basing its economy on India, sometimes Turkey and China. And it’s obvious if these guys stop their energy trade with Russia, then it will have to stop fighting the war,” says Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. pic.twitter.com/6zZtFR7CLh
— Centre for Global India Insights (@CGIIthinktank) September 23, 2026
Earlier in the day, Zelenskyy met with American counterpart Donald Trump where both discussed imposing sanctions on countries having oil trade relations with Moscow. He began his visit to New York by meeting with US senators. He thanked them for what he described as strong bipartisan support for Ukraine and for backing a tougher sanctions bill against Russia that Trump signed into law. Peace and security would be closer once the legislation was fully implemented, Zelenskyy said.
India-Russia oil trade
Notably, India ramped up its energy purchases from Russia after the Ukraine war began in 2022 amid geopolitical tensions. For three years, New Delhi received Russian oil at heavily discounted rates, which resulted in Moscow becoming India's biggest crude oil trading partner in 2023. However, India has reduced Russian oil imports in recent times following US President Donald Trump's sanctions on Moscow.
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Earlier last week, the President signed the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026. The legislation gave immense powers to Trump to impose tariffs of up to 100 per cent on countries that continue to purchase Russian oil and gas, including India and China.
India's strong reaction to US' Russia and Iran sanctions law
Subsequently, India reacted strongly to the bill and asserted that New Delhi will continue to navigate its oil demands according to national interests. "As stated on several earlier occasions, India remains firmly committed to ensuring energy security for its 1.4 billion people. It will continue to do so through diversified sourcing and on the basis of evolving market dynamics," the Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement.
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Earlier, in the first week of this month, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar sent a strong message to the United States from Ukraine regarding sanctions on nations buying Russian oil, stating that the war would not be solved by such measures but through dialogue.
"This conflict, which is today in its fifth year, will not be solved because somebody is buying or not buying oil or alumina or minerals or metals or fertiliser. This conflict will be solved by dialogue, diplomacy and negotiation. That is why it is something we would encourage," said Jaishankar.