India, Nov. 8 -- For months, US President Donald Trump has sought to end the Russia-Ukraine conflict, combining traditional diplomacy with aggressive economic pressure. Central to his strategy has been targeting Russia's energy exports, which fund its war effort. Trump has levied tariffs on nations buying Russian oil, singling out India - a major purchaser - with a 25% penalty. Yet India, along with China, has resisted cutting its imports, hampering Washington's efforts.

The stakes escalated recently when the US Treasury imposed sanctions on two of Russia's largest oil companies, Rosneft and Lukoil. These firms account for roughly 5% of global oil output and form a significant part of India's imports. Firms have been given until November...