US Tariffs on India a ‘Big Blow’ to Russia, Says Trump Ahead of Putin Summit
US President Donald Trump claimed on Monday that punitive tariffs imposed on India for purchasing Russian oil have delivered a “big blow” to Moscow’s economy, framing the move as a key pressure point ahead of his high-stakes meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska next week. Speaking at a White House press conference, Trump asserted that Russia’s economy was “not doing well” and had been “very well disturbed” by the combination of American trade penalties and global pressures.
Pointing directly at New Delhi’s energy relationship with Moscow, Trump identified India as one of Russia’s “largest or second-largest oil buyers.” He then took credit for disrupting this trade, stating, “Doesn’t help when the President of the United States tells their largest or second-largest oil buyer that we’re putting a 50% tariff on you if you buy oil from Russia. That was a big blow.” The Trump administration has levied a total tariff of 50% on India—a 25% reciprocal duty compounded by an additional 25% levy specifically on its Russian oil imports, a move India has strongly condemned as “unfair, unjustified, and unreasonable.”
Trump confirmed his meeting with Putin is set for Friday in Alaska, a location he deemed a sign of respect from the Russian leader. “I thought it was very respectful that the President of Russia is coming to our country, as opposed to us going to his country or even a third-party place,” he said, expressing hope for “constructive conversations.” He added that he plans to engage with European leaders following the summit and wants to facilitate talks between Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
During the press conference, Trump also made the broad claim that he has solved five wars during his second term, again asserting that he had stopped a conflict between India and Pakistan. This claim is at odds with India’s official position, which has repeatedly stated that the ceasefire understanding with Pakistan was the result of direct negotiations between the militaries of the two countries.
