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US President Donald Trump said on Thursday that the heavy tariffs he placed on India were aimed at pressuring Russian President Vladimir Putin to join talks on the Ukraine conflict. According to Trump, the move sought to cut Moscow’s oil revenue, and he hinted that the strategy was showing results.
His statement came a day before a key meeting between the American and Russian leaders in Alaska. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent also warned that penalties could increase if the talks did not go well.
During a Fox News podcast interview, Trump was asked if his threats of more sanctions pushed Russia toward Friday’s meeting. He pointed to the tariffs on India as a factor that drove Moscow to the table.
“I think everything has an impact. [For instance], when I told India and which essentially took them out of buying oil from Russia, that we’re going to charge you more because you’re dealing with Russia and oil purchases… India was the second largest and getting pretty close to China. China is the largest,” Trump explained.
He suggested that a similar step against China — Russia’s biggest oil buyer — was being considered. Trump added, “…When you lose your second largest customer and you’re probably going to lose your first, largest customer, I think that probably has a role.”
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the 50% tariff on India could rise further if the Putin talks fail. Speaking to Bloomberg, he noted, “I could see, if things don’t go well, then sanctions or secondary tariffs could go up.”
Trump had imposed these tariffs earlier in August — a 25% reciprocal tariff and another 25% penalty for buying Russian oil. The oil-related tariff is set to take effect on August 27. Bessent described the approach as tactical, saying, “Sanctions can go up, they can be loosened. They can have a definitive life. They can go on indefinitely.”
Bessent also mentioned cracking down on Russia’s “shadow fleet of ships around the world” used to move sanctioned oil. He urged European allies to enforce their own secondary sanctions.
“It’s put up or shut up time. The President is creating his own leverage,” he said.
India has rejected the US tariffs, calling them “unjustified and unreasonable.” It remains one of the biggest buyers of Russian crude since Western nations imposed sanctions following the Ukraine invasion in February 2022.
Indian officials have defended their purchases and accused the US and EU of unfairly targeting them, noting that other countries still buying Russian energy have not faced similar American penalties.
