Donald Trump Imposed ‘sanctions On India’ To End War In Ukraine: White House

White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre stated that former President Donald Trump used measures, including sanctions on India, to apply “tremendous public pressure” on Russia to negotiate an end to the war in Ukraine. The comments came after Trump met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to discuss a potential peace summit with Russian leader Vladimir Putin.

The administration’s strategy has been heavily criticized by some allies, who argue it punishes a strategic partner for acting in its own economic interests.

US Criticism of India’s Oil Trade

The administration’s tough stance on India is rooted in its massive increase in Russian oil imports since the war began.

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent argued that India has been “profiteering” from the conflict. “India had less than 1% of its oil from Russia before the war, and now it’s up to 42%,” Bessent said. “They’ve made $16 billion in excess profits. This arbitrage is unacceptable.”

White House trade advisor Peter Navarro went further, accusing India of “fueling Russia’s war machine” and pledging to “hit India where it hurts” through new tariffs and trade barriers. He described India’s actions as “opportunistic” and damaging to Western efforts to isolate Russia.

Trump’s Tariff Strategy

Former President Trump directly linked his punitive trade actions against India to the pressure campaign on Moscow. He previously imposed tariff penalties that effectively doubled duties to 50% on certain Indian imports.

“India is the second-largest buyer of Russian oil, close to China. By raising tariffs, I essentially took them out of the Russian oil market,” Trump stated in a recent interview, emphasizing that “everything has an impact” on the global calculus of war.

The White House maintains that this combined pressure is essential to bringing the war in Ukraine to a swift conclusion.

Highlights:

The White House claims Trump’s sanctions on India were a key tactic to force Russia into peace talks by cutting off a major revenue stream.
Senior officials accused India of “profiteering” from the war, making billions by reselling discounted Russian oil.
The strategy included sharply increased tariffs on Indian goods, which Trump said took India “out of the Russian oil market.”

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