US President Donald Trump has speculated that his administration’s decision to impose a punitive tariff on India over its continued purchase of Russian oil may have played a role in moving peace negotiations between the United States and Russia forward.
Speaking in New York on Wednesday, Trump said, “We put a 50 per cent tariff on India. I don’t know if that had anything to do with it, but we’ve had very productive talks today with Russia.”
Last week, Trump had announced a general 25% tariff on India, and added another 25% on Wednesday, specifically in response to India’s oil imports from Russia.
These tariffs—set to take effect in 21 days—mark a sharp escalation in economic pressure from Washington.
India Responds, Calls Move ‘Unfortunate’
India reacted strongly to the development, describing the move as ‘extremely unfortunate’, and affirmed its commitment to defending national interests.
In an official statement, New Delhi declared it will take all necessary actions to protect its national interests, emphasising that market dynamics and energy security for its 1.4 billion citizens drive its oil imports.
While refusing to directly link the India-specific tariffs with recent diplomatic gains, Trump hinted that they may have played a role.
His Special Envoy, Steve Witkoff, met Russian President Vladimir Putin for over three hours in a high-level discussion on Ukraine.
Commenting on the talks, Trump said, “We had some very good talks with President Putin today. There’s a very good chance we’re reaching the end of the road to peace.”
Kremlin spokesperson Yury Ushakov confirmed that the talks were ‘useful and constructive’, and hinted at continued diplomatic engagement.
Tripartite Meeting in the Works?
Trump also said there is a ‘good prospect’ of holding a tripartite summit involving himself, Russian President Putin, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in the near future.
Although he did not provide a timeline, the remark signals that momentum is growing towards a negotiated settlement.
When reporters asked if the US would lift the 50% tariff on India after a peace deal, Trump replied, “We’ll determine that later.”
When questioned on why India was singled out despite other countries like China also importing Russian oil, Trump responded, “It may happen. One of them could be China.”
He accused India of buying Russian oil, refining it, and selling it on the open market for large profits, and said, “They don’t care how many people in Ukraine are being killed by the Russian war machine.”
Despite the sharp rhetoric, India maintains that its energy trade decisions are based on national priorities, not politics.
Also Read: President Trump Imposes Additional 25% Tariffs On Indian Imports Over Russian Oil Trade
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