Washington, August 20, 2025:

The White House confirmed that US President Donald Trump imposed secondary tariffs on India as part of efforts to end the ongoing war in Ukraine. The announcement came a day after Trump met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House and expressed openness to a trilateral meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated that Trump has taken multiple actions, including the sanctions on India, to bring the conflict to a swift conclusion. “The President has put tremendous public pressure to bring this war to a close. He has made himself very clear that he wants to see this war ended and has rejected ideas of waiting longer before meetings take place,” Leavitt said.

The sanctions are seen as part of a broader US strategy to pressure countries allegedly supporting Russia’s war efforts. According to top US officials, India earned “huge” profits from the sale and resale of Russian oil during and after the war. Trump himself suggested that his tariffs on New Delhi may have influenced Putin to engage in talks with him.

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent criticized India’s oil trade, highlighting that while India’s oil imports from Russia increased from under 1 percent to 42 percent of total consumption, the country profited significantly through reselling. “India is just profiteering. They made $16 billion in excess profits, benefiting some of the richest families in India,” Bessent said. He contrasted India’s treatment with that of China, noting that no similar penalties had been imposed on Beijing despite its oil purchases from Russia.

Meanwhile, White House trade advisor Peter Navarro criticized India for purchasing Russian energy and defense equipment, calling the trade “opportunistic” and “corrosive” to global efforts to isolate the Russian economy. Navarro added that India’s actions indirectly forced American and European taxpayers to spend billions on supporting Ukraine’s defense while limiting US exports through high tariffs and trade barriers.

Trump emphasized that his decision to impose additional tariffs—raising them from 25 percent to 50 percent—was aimed at curbing India’s purchases of Russian oil, which he said was “fueling the war machine.” He noted that India is the world’s second-largest buyer of Russian oil, approaching the level of China, the largest purchaser.

The sanctions follow a series of diplomatic maneuvers by the Trump administration intended to leverage economic pressure in bringing all parties to the negotiating table. During his meeting with Zelensky, Trump signaled the possibility of a trilateral discussion with Putin, aiming to negotiate a resolution to the conflict in Ukraine. Zelensky described the discussion as the “best conversation” he had with the US President to date.

The White House underscored that the sanctions are part of a comprehensive approach to end the war quickly while ensuring accountability for nations seen as profiting from the conflict. Officials stressed that the US will continue diplomatic and economic measures to push for an expedited ceasefire and lasting resolution.

As tensions rise over energy trade and military support, the India-US dynamic is under scrutiny, with Trump’s administration using tariffs as a tool to influence international engagement and geopolitical outcomes in the Ukraine conflict.
Trump Imposes Sanctions on India Over Russian Oil Trade

The White House confirmed that President Donald Trump imposed secondary tariffs on India to pressure New Delhi over its purchase of Russian oil during the Ukraine war. US officials say India profited heavily from reselling oil, prompting sanctions to curb further support for Russia. Trump’s move comes ahead of a potential trilateral meeting with Vladimir Putin, aiming to bring the war in Ukraine to a swift end. The sanctions are part of broader US efforts to push for peace while holding countries accountable for actions that fuel the conflict.