Days before his scheduled meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska on August 15, US President Donald Trump said on Monday that American tariffs on India’s purchases of Russian oil have dealt a serious blow to Russia’s economy.
Trump described India as one of Russia’s “largest or second-largest oil buyers” and underlined New Delhi’s important position in the global energy market.
Russia’s Economy “Disturbed” by Tariffs
Speaking at a White House press conference, Trump said Russia’s economy was “not doing well” and had been “very well disturbed” because of US trade duties and wider international challenges.
“I think Russia needs to focus on rebuilding their country. It’s an enormous nation with tremendous potential,” Trump said. “Right now, they’re struggling because these tariffs and external pressures have unsettled them deeply,” he added, as quoted by PTI.
Targeting India’s Oil Imports from Russia
The president pointed to India’s energy trade with Russia as a major part of his pressure strategy.
“It doesn’t help when the President of the United States tells their largest or second-largest oil buyer that we’re imposing a 50 per cent tariff on any oil purchased from Russia. That was a major blow,” Trump said, clearly referring to India.
Under Trump’s policy, the US has imposed a 25 per cent reciprocal tariff on Indian goods and an extra 25 per cent tariff on India’s Russian oil imports — making it a total 50 per cent duty. India has sharply opposed the move, calling it “unfair, unjustified and unreasonable.”
Meeting with Putin in Alaska
Confirming his upcoming meeting with Putin on Friday in Alaska, Trump said: “I think it’s very respectful that the President of Russia is coming to our country instead of us travelling to his or to a neutral location. I expect our conversations to be constructive.”
He added that he plans to meet European leaders after the talks and hopes to arrange a meeting between Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Claim of Ending Conflicts
Trump also repeated his claim that in his second term he has resolved five wars and that he ended the conflict between India and Pakistan. However, India has consistently said that the ceasefire agreement with Pakistan was achieved through direct talks between the Directors General of Military Operations from both countries.
