Indian experts believe the U.S. president is trying to gain short-term leverage in trade negotiations with New Delhi.

Jaiswal argued that India only began importing oil from Russia after “traditional supplies were diverted to Europe after the outbreak of the conflict” before noting the U.S. appreciated this move at the time as it kept the “global energy markets” stable.

India’s NSA Ajit Doval is in Moscow to bolster ties with Russia amid growing US pressure over arms and oil imports.