US President Donald Trump has urged the European Union (EU) to hit major Russian crude buyers China and India with up to 100 per cent tariffs to pressure Russian President Vladimir Putin to end the war in Ukraine.
Trump made the demand during a meeting between officials of the US and EU on Tuesday, a source familiar with the discussions told the press.
His demand follows remarks from the US Treasury Secretary, Scott Bessent, who said Washington was prepared to escalate economic pressure on Russia, but needed stronger European backing.
Trump’s meeting with Putin in Alaska last month to discuss ways to bring peace to the strife-torn Ukraine and broker a peace deal between Kyiv and Moscow failed.
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As Russia’s strikes on Ukraine intensify, the US President is struggling to end the conflict, which he had pledged he would end on “day one” of becoming the President.
Meanwhile, he told reporters on Tuesday that he plans to talk to Putin on a call this week or early next week.
Last month, Trump slapped 50 per cent tariffs on India – the highest imposed on any country other than Brazil – for continuing to buy oil from Russia, which he claims floats Russia’s war machine and economy.
India has since hardened its stance on buying Russian oil, standing up to US’s pressure tactics with claims that the US and EU continue to trade with Russia whilst accusing India of “funding” the Ukraine war.
Although the EU said it would end its dependency on Russian energy, around 19 per cent of its natural gas imports still come from there. If the bloc does impose tariffs on China and India, there would be a marked increase in tensions between the countries involved as EU attempts to alter its approach to pressuring Russia to end the war.
On Tuesday, there seems to have emerged a thaw in the stalled trade talks between India and the US, with Trump saying the US and India were "continuing negotiations to address the trade barriers" between the two countries.
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He also wrote on social media that he plans to speak to India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the coming weeks and expects a "successful conclusion" to their trade talks.
In response, Prime Minister Modi echoed Trump's optimism that the talks would be successful and said the two countries were "close friends and natural partners."
"Our teams are working to conclude these discussions at the earliest. I am also looking forward to speaking with President Trump," he added.
These signs of apparent reconciliation are being viewed with hope, especially after Trump emphasised last week the "special relationship" between India and the US, saying "there's nothing to worry about. We just have moments on occasion".
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