Kwatra briefs US Democrats on Ukraine amid Russia oil sanctions push

Washington,UPDATED: Sep 4, 2026 23:06 IST

India's Ambassador to the US, Vinay Mohan Kwatra, met Democratic lawmakers Brad Sherman and Katherine Clark this week and briefed them on New Delhi's efforts for a peaceful resolution of the Ukraine conflict. The talks also covered India-US cooperation in defence, trade, technology and energy, including India's energy security needs.

The meetings took place against the backdrop of External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar's visit to Ukraine and at a time when a bill linked to sanctions on Russia is awaiting approval in the US Congress. The proposed law could allow the US President to impose tariffs on countries, including India and China, that buy large amounts of Russian oil.

After meeting Sherman on Thursday, Kwatra said in a post on X: "Had a useful conversation with Congressman @BradSherman today (Thursday) on our deepening ties in defence, trade, technology and energy, including India's energy security imperatives." He added: "Also, exchanged views on the situation in Ukraine and briefed him on India's efforts for peaceful resolution of the conflict. Thanked him for his support to the India-US partnership." Sherman is serving his 15th term in the US House of Representatives and is a senior member of the House Committees on Foreign Relations and Financial Services.

On Friday morning, Kwatra met Katherine Clark, the Democratic Whip in the House of Representatives. He discussed the India-US partnership with her, along with recent developments in defence, trade, technology and education. He also spoke about growing energy cooperation, India's energy security imperatives and Jaishankar's visit to Ukraine.

In another post on X, Kwatra said: "Had a productive conversation with Rep. Katherine Clark @WhipKClark today on the India-US partnership and recent developments in the defence, trade, technology and education pillars." He added: "We discussed our growing energy cooperation and India's energy security imperatives. I also briefed her on EAM Dr S Jaishankar's recent visit to Ukraine and India's continuing efforts for a peaceful resolution of the conflict."

The meetings are significant because the Sanctioning Russia Act is pending before the US Congress. The bill, passed by the US Senate last month, seeks to empower President Donald Trump to impose tariffs of up to 100 per cent on countries, including China and India, that are major buyers of oil from Russia. The House has not yet listed the bill for consideration. Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries said earlier this week that the party had not taken a position on it. "It risks providing tariff and sanctions authority to Donald Trump and his administration that we believe they will abuse," Jeffries told reporters on Monday after the House reconvened following its August recess. Ukraine's sanctions commissioner, Vladyslav Vlasiuk, was also in Washington this week to lobby lawmakers for the bill's early passage. In sum, Kwatra's meetings with Sherman and Clark focused on the wider India-US partnership while also conveying India's position on Ukraine and its energy security concerns at a sensitive moment in the US Congress.

With PTI Inputs

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