New Delhi, Sept. 24 -- US Energy Department Secretary Chris Wright, on Wednesday, flagged India's oil ties with Russia, claiming that the nation is an "awesome ally of America," but is "also buying Russian oil."

"I'm a huge fan of India. It is an awesome ally of America. But it is also buying Russian oil. We want to end the Ukraine war and I believe India also wants that. America wants nothing more than to expand energy trade with India," Wright said while addressing a press conference.

The US Energy secretary's comments come amid the additional 25 per cent tariff US has imposed on India as a penalty for its purchases of Russian oil, taking the total levies imposed on India by the Trump administration to 50 per cent, among the highest i...