US President Donald Trump indicated that his recent decision to add extra tariffs on India could have played a role in Russian President Vladimir Putin's willingness to speak with him. In an interview with Fox News Radio, Trump stated, "Everything has an impact."
Trump last week declared an extra 25% tariff over and above the current 25% tax on Indian imports, effectively doubling the tax rate to 50%. The action, he said, was in reaction to India's ongoing oil purchases from Russia in defiance of Western sanctions.
The action "essentially took them out of buying oil from Russia," according to Trump. India is now the second-largest Russian oil buyer after China.
Trump claimed that this trade action had wider geopolitical consequences. He stated that the loss of India as a significant buyer could be a devastating blow to Moscow's energy income and intimated that China could be the next point of similar economic pressure.
"Of course, when you lose your second-largest customer, and you're likely to lose your first-largest customer, I think that likely plays a role," Trump said in reference to the possible effect on Russian decision-making.
Host Brian Kilmeade questioned Trump whether his move to reduce Russia's deadline for stopping the war in Ukraine from 50 days to 10 days, and the potential of new sanctions, was related to media reports that Moscow wanted to engage with his team.
Trump explained that the series of measures including the tariffs on India may have had an effect on the Kremlin's approach. "I think everything has an impact," he repeated.
Trump also disclosed that following the imposition of the tariffs, his ambassador Steve Witkoff had received a call from Russia expressing interest in meeting. Trump did not go into details about the agenda but his statement implies he views the trade action as part of an overall strategy to put pressure on Moscow both economically and diplomatically.
