U.S. President Donald Trump has declared that steep American tariffs on India’s purchases of Russian oil have struck a major economic blow to Moscow, which he claims is already struggling under global pressure. Speaking from the White House, Trump said Russia’s economy has been “very well disturbed” and urged President Vladimir Putin to shift focus from war to rebuilding the country’s vast economic potential.
The U.S. has imposed a 25% reciprocal tariff on Indian goods and an additional 25% levy on Indian imports of Russian oil, resulting in a combined 50% duty. Trump argued the move not only generates revenue for the U.S. but also strengthens its leverage in international conflicts.
“That was a big blow,” Trump said, referring to the impact on Russia’s oil sales to India, one of its largest buyers. “No one else would have been so tough, and I haven’t stopped there.”
He went on to claim that his trade policies have contributed to resolving multiple global disputes, including tensions between India and Pakistan and the decades-long conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia.
When asked about the possibility of restoring normal U.S.-Russia trade ties, Trump said it could happen if Moscow abandons its wartime posture. “If Vladimir Putin would go toward business instead of toward war … we could have a strong relationship,” he said, adding that upcoming talks with the Russian leader could determine whether a truce in the Ukraine conflict is possible.
Trump’s comments come just days after he referred to both the Indian and Russian economies as “dead,” underscoring the increasingly hard-line trade approach of his administration.