US Marco Rubio has expressed sharp disappointment over India's continued oil imports from Russia, calling it a "point of irritation" in the bilateral relationship and noting that such purchases are "helping to fund the war effort" in Ukraine.

A day after Trump announced a 25 per cent tariff “plus penalty” on India, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio Thursday voiced concern that New Delhi’s continued import of Russian oil is “most certainly a point of irritation” in the relationship between the two nations.

US Secretary of State Rubio stated that India is an “ally, strategic partner” when it comes to global trade; however, he stressed in international relations (foreign policy), it's unrealistic to expect that two countries or allies will agree on everything all the time.