<h1>U.S. trade official urges India to side with West over Russia, criticizes cheap Russian oil buys and trade barriers</h1> A senior U.S. trade official criticized a public display of unity among the leaders of India, Russia and China at an international summit, urging the Indian government to align with the U.S., Europe and Ukraine rather than Russia. He characterized India's purchases of discounted Russian crude and bilateral commercial ties with China as circumvention of Western sanctions and profiteering, asserted India maintains high tariff and non-tariff barriers, and defended U.S. reciprocal tariffs and additional levies on Indian imports and oil purchases. The statements highlight trade-policy measures, sanctions-evasion concerns, and diplomatic friction that could affect ongoing tariff disputes and energy-supply sanctions enforcement.