Donald Trump Says Ready for ‘Second Phase’ of Sanctions on Countries Buying Russian Oil
US President Donald Trump has signaled his readiness to unleash a “second phase” of sanctions in response to the war in Ukraine, a move that could directly impact countries like India that continue to be major purchasers of Russian oil . The stern warning came after Russia launched its largest aerial assault on Ukraine since the war began, striking a key government complex in Kyiv and killing at least four people .
When asked at the White House if he was prepared to move forward with new sanctions on Russia or its oil buyers, Trump gave a curt, one-word answer: “Yeah” . While he did not elaborate on the specifics, his comments suggest a significant hardening of the US position and a growing impatience with the protracted conflict, especially after his own recent diplomatic overtures to broker a ceasefire failed .
Adding weight to the threat, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated that Washington and the European Union could impose “secondary tariffs” on nations importing Russian crude . He argued that only causing the “collapse” of Russia’s economy would bring President Vladimir Putin to the negotiating table . This rhetoric directly follows the Trump administration’s decision last month to slap a punitive 25% tariff on Indian exports, raising the total import duty to 50%, with Trump explicitly citing India’s role in “fuelling the Russian war machine” .
New Delhi has consistently defended its energy trade with Moscow, citing national security interests and market dynamics, and has called the US tariffs “unjustified and unreasonable” . The renewed threat of sanctions comes despite a recent seemingly conciliatory exchange between Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on social media, which had hinted at a possible de-escalation of bilateral tensions . Following the latest devastating strikes on Kyiv, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has urged Trump to impose punishing sanctions on Russia to force an end to the war .
