In a surprising turn, U.S. President Donald Trump suggested that recent progress in talks with Russia over the Ukraine conflict might be linked to Washington’s new tariffs on Indian goods. The comment follows his announcement of a 50% tariff hike on Indian imports, aimed at penalizing New Delhi for buying and reselling Russian oil.
Speaking on Wednesday, Trump said he was planning to meet with both Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky as early as next week. The effort, he said, is part of a renewed push to bring an end to the ongoing war.
The timing of the diplomatic developments raised eyebrows, coming just hours after the U.S. doubled tariffs on Indian goods. Trump hinted there could be a connection between the two. “We put a 50 percent tariff on India,” he posted on social media. “I don’t know if that had anything to do with it, but we’ve had very productive talks today [with Russia].”
Trump sharply criticized India for buying large volumes of Russian crude and refining it into products for export. “They’re selling it on the open market at a big profit,” he wrote on Truth Social, accusing India of profiting from the war while civilians suffer in Ukraine.
When asked if the tariffs would be rolled back if peace talks were successful, Trump left the door open. “We’ll determine that later,” he said. “But right now, they’re paying a 50 percent tariff.”
Although he has previously stated that such penalties would apply to all countries buying Russian oil, only India has been directly targeted so far. Trump noted that India is among the top buyers of Russian oil, alongside China, and warned that Beijing could be next.
“It may happen,” he said, referring to similar tariffs for China. “We’re doing it probably with a couple of others.”
The U.S. is also reportedly weighing additional measures to curb Russia’s oil revenues, which continue to fund its war efforts. Bloomberg has reported that the Trump administration is considering sanctions on shadow tanker fleets and entities facilitating covert oil transport for Moscow.
India, in response, has called the tariffs “unfortunate” and emphasized that it will take steps to defend its national interests. Indian officials noted that its oil imports are guided by market dynamics and the need to ensure energy security for its 1.4 billion citizens.
The new 25% tariff—on top of the 25% already imposed—will take effect in 21 days.
Image Source: Getty Images
Image Credit: Respective Owner
