Trump’s Tariffs on India Are ‘Aggressive Leverage’ to Force Russia on Ukraine, Says VP JD Vance

US Vice President JD Vance has revealed that the Trump administration’s heavy tariffs on India are a form of “aggressive economic leverage” deliberately designed to pressure Russia into ending the war in Ukraine. In an exclusive interview on Sunday, Vance framed the controversial secondary tariffs as a strategic tool to choke Moscow’s oil revenues and push it toward peace negotiations.

Speaking to NBC News’ Meet the Press, Vance explained the rationale behind the policy that has strained relations with New Delhi. “Trump has applied aggressive economic leverage, for example secondary tariffs on India, to try to make it harder for the Russians to get rich from their oil economy,” he said. The move is a direct response to India’s continued purchase of discounted Russian crude, which Washington argues indirectly funds Moscow’s war effort.

The comments provide the clearest articulation yet of the White House’s strategy, which has seen tariffs on Indian goods double to 50%. Vance suggested this economic pressure is intended to force Russia’s hand. “He tried to make it clear that Russia can be reinvented into the world economy if they stop the killing. But they are going to continue to be isolated if they don’t stop the killing,” Vance stated.

The US policy has been met with sharp criticism from India. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar recently took a swipe at Washington, questioning the logic of a “pro-business American administration accusing other people of doing business.” Defending India’s sovereign trade decisions, Jaishankar said, “If you have a problem buying oil or refined products from India, don’t buy it. Nobody forces you to buy it.”

India has consistently argued that its energy purchases are driven by national interest and the need to ensure affordability for its 1.4 billion people. Critics of the US policy also point out that China, the largest buyer of Russian oil, has mostly avoided similar public scrutiny from the Trump administration.

Despite the current trade friction, Vance struck an optimistic tone regarding the Ukraine conflict, suggesting that President Trump’s hardline approach is yielding results. “I think the Russians have made significant concessions to (US) President (Donald) Trump… for the first time in three and a half years of this conflict, they have actually been willing to be flexible on some of their core demands,” Vance claimed.