Washington, Aug. 1 -- United States Secretary of State 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.

Speaking to Fox Radio's Brian Kilmeade, Rubio said, "India is an ally. It's a strategic partner. Like anything in foreign policy, you're not going to align a hundred percent of the time on everything."

"India has huge energy needs and that includes the ability to buy oil and coal and gas and things that it needs to power its economy like every country does, and it buys it from Russia, because Russian oil is sanctioned and cheap and - meaning they ...