US Imposes 50% Tariffs on India, Strikes Blow to Russian Oil Trade

President Donald Trump announced a 50% tariff on India, combining a 25% reciprocal tariff with an additional 25% levy specifically targeting India's purchases of Russian oil, which he said has dealt a significant blow to Moscow's struggling economy. Trump described India as Russia's largest or second-largest oil buyer and asserted that these tariffs increase U.S. leverage over adversaries while generating trillions of dollars in revenue. He also stated that the sanctions might pressure Russian President Vladimir Putin to seek an end to the war in Ukraine and announced an upcoming meeting with Putin in Alaska to discuss a potential ceasefire, emphasizing his desire for direct talks between Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. The tariffs mark a sharp deterioration in Indo-U.S. relations, exacerbated by Trump's previous overtures toward Pakistan and a lack of progress in trade talks. Indian officials have denied that tariffs influenced their operations or negotiations, and the move highlights growing tensions as Washington seeks to choke off Moscow's oil revenues amid the ongoing Ukraine conflict. Trump additionally claimed credit for brokering peace in other conflicts and touted U.S. power gained through these economic measures.