- The US proposes 100% tariffs on countries buying Russian oil amid Ukraine war tensions
- China and India accounted for over half of Russia's fossil fuel export earnings in 2023
- India's Russian crude imports surged as European countries reduced their purchases
The United States has taken a tougher stance against countries buying Russian fossil fuels, with a new law proposing tariffs of up to 100% on nations that continue purchasing Russian oil. The move is aimed at squeezing Moscow's energy revenues, but the data reveal a complicated reality: even as Washington targets buyers of Russian energy, America itself continues to rely on Russia for key supplies linked to its energy and agricultural sectors.
According to data from the US Energy Information Administration, Russia remained the largest foreign supplier of uranium enrichment services purchased by US nuclear reactor operators in 2025. Russia accounted for 33.6 per cent of all foreign enrichment services used by American reactors, ahead of France (22.8 per cent), the United Kingdom (18.7 per cent) and the Netherlands (10.8 per cent). Russia's share has remained consistently high over the years, standing at 34.4 per cent in 2021, 33.1 per cent in 2022 and peaking at 37.9 per cent in 2023 before easing to 24.8 per cent in 2024. In simple terms, roughly one out of every three foreign enrichment services used by US reactors came from Russia.
The dependence extends beyond the nuclear sector.
Data from the USDA Fertiliser Transportation Dashboard show that Russia's share in US nitrogen fertiliser imports has steadily increased over the past decade. Russia accounted for just 5.3 per cent of US nitrogen fertiliser imports in 2010. That share rose to 16.4 per cent in 2019, crossed the 20 per cent mark in 2023, reached 25.7 per cent in 2025 and hit a record 27 per cent in 2026.
Fertilisers are a critical input for agriculture and food production. The growing Russian share suggests that despite efforts to limit economic ties with Moscow, American agriculture continues to depend on Russian supplies.
Countries In America's Tariff Crosshairs
While the United States remains linked to Russia through uranium enrichment and fertilisers, the new tariff law is directed at countries that continue buying Russian fossil fuels.
Data from the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) show that since January 2023, China has been Russia's largest fossil fuel customer, accounting for 35.3 per cent of Russia's fossil fuel export earnings. India follows with a 20.2 per cent share, while Türkiye accounts for 13.8 per cent. Together, China and India contributed more than half of Russia's fossil fuel export revenue during the period.
The figures suggest that any tariff-based action targeting buyers of Russian oil would have the biggest implications for countries that have emerged as major customers of Moscow's energy exports.
As Europe Stepped Back, India Stepped In
India's growing role in Russian oil trade can be traced directly to the changes triggered by the Ukraine war.
Before the conflict, Europe was among the biggest buyers of Russian crude. However, sanctions and policy changes led European countries to sharply reduce imports. CREA data tracking daily Russian crude oil imports in thousand tonnes show the EU's purchases steadily declining after 2022.
At the same time, India's imports moved in the opposite direction. What was once a relatively small trade relationship transformed into one of Russia's most important oil markets as Indian refiners increased purchases of discounted Russian crude.
The shift effectively reshaped global Russian oil trade. As Europe exited, India stepped in. Russian crude that once flowed largely to European markets increasingly found buyers in Asia, with India emerging as one of the biggest beneficiaries of discounted supplies.
America's Russia Paradox
Taken together, the data highlight a contradiction at the heart of the current debate.
The United States is seeking to increase pressure on countries buying Russian oil and fossil fuels. Yet America itself remains dependent on Russia for products that support electricity generation and agricultural production. Russia remains the largest foreign supplier of uranium enrichment services used by US nuclear reactors and has steadily expanded its share in US fertiliser imports.
The numbers underscore the challenges of completely cutting economic links with Moscow. While Washington is pushing other countries to reduce their dependence on Russian energy, critical parts of the U.S. economy continue to rely on Russian supplies.
