US Imposed Sanctions On India To End Russia-Ukraine War, More Tariffs If Trump-Putin Talks Fail

The United States on Tuesday said that the recent sanctions imposed on India were aimed at ending the Russia-Ukraine War. The statement comes amid the ongoing peace efforts between Kyiv and Moscow under Trump's leadership.

Speaking to reporters, US White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said, "Look, the president has put tremendous public pressure to bring this war to a close. He's taken actions, as you've seen, sanctions on India and other actions as well. He's made himself very clear that he wants to see this war end, and he has scoffed at the ideas of others that have been raised that we should wait another month before any meeting takes place,"

Leavitt further added, "The president wants to move and he wants to bring this war to an end as quickly as possible," she said. "With all of those European leaders leaving the White House, including the NATO Secretary General, they all agree that this is a great first step. And it's a good thing that these two leaders are going to be sitting down together, and the president expects that to happen," she explained.

Leavitt further stated that the US is working with both Russia and Ukraine to make that "bilateral happen as we speak."

More Sanctions On India If Putin-Trump Talks Fail

On the the hand, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has stated that secondary tariffs on India might increase if Trump and Putin's talks fail to come into fruition.

"We've put secondary tariffs on Indians for buying Russian oil. And I could see, If things don't go well, then sanctions or secondary tariffs could go up," BBC quoted Bessent as telling in an interview to Bloomberg TV on Wednesday.

The US had recently imposed a 25% additional tariff on India apart from 25% tariffs for buying oil and weapons from Russia.

Trump's Talks With Russia, Ukraine

Last weekend, Trump hosted Putin in Alaska and held a meeting with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and top European leaders at the White House on Monday.

He is now working to coordinate a meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

On the other hand, Trump has assured NATO-like security guarantees to Ukraine while asking Zelenskyy to give up hopes of getting back annexed Crimea or joining NATO.