Energy Secretary Chris Wright has asked New Delhi to purchase energy from America or other countries

US Energy Secretary Chris Wright has called on India to find alternatives to Russian oil, saying the country could buy crude from anyone except Russia.

Answering a question on India's continued purchases of Russian oil on Wednesday, Wright said there were numerous global exporters that New Delhi could rely on.

"You can buy oil from any nation on earth, just not Russian oil," Wright said, adding that India chooses to buy Russian oil because it is cheaper.

"Nobody wants to buy Russian oil; they have to sell it at a discount," the US official claimed. "India has decided to make the trade-off to buy cheaper oil and look the other way, which is giving money to a guy who's murdering thousands of people every week."

Wright also said the US does not wish to "punish" India, but rather its goal is to bring an end to the Ukraine conflict. He suggested that India could consider purchasing oil from the US instead. 

Since 2023, India has emerged as a major exporter of refined fuels to Europe. Indian private firms purchase Russian crude at discounted prices and then sell processed fuel products to European markets. 

Wright's comments are the latest in a series of statements from US officials regarding the punitive measures that President Donald Trump imposed on India, which came into effect from August 27.

The Trump administration has levied 50% tariffs on most imports from India, which includes a 25% penalty specifically for India's purchases of Russian oil and defense equipment.

In his speech at the UN General Assembly in New York on Tuesday, Trump accused India and China of "funding" the Ukraine conflict through Russian energy imports.

Both Beijing and New Delhi have called Washington's approach unacceptable and refused to bow to US pressure. 

The EU has also suggested it would like to wean New Delhi away from Moscow.

Decoupling India from Russia will be a challenge for the bloc even as it seeks to build an economic partnership with the South Asian country, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas admitted last week.