Trump Says 50% Tariff on India Over Russian Oil a ‘Big Blow’ to Moscow Ahead of Putin Meeting

US President Donald Trump on Monday claimed his 50% tariff on India for buying Russian oil has dealt a “big blow” to Moscow’s economy, calling India one of Russia’s “largest or second-largest oil buyers.”

Speaking at the White House, Trump said Russia’s economy is “not doing well” due to global pressures and US trade measures. The tariff on India was implemented in two stages — a 25% levy announced July 30, followed by another 25% on August 7 — under an executive order targeting threats from the Russian government.

“It doesn’t help when the President of the United States tells their largest or second-largest oil buyer that we’re putting a 50% tariff on you if you buy oil from Russia,” Trump said. India has called the move “unfair, unjustified, and unreasonable.”

Trump is set to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska on August 15, his first US visit since 2015, in an effort to push for a Ukraine ceasefire. He said he would also engage with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and hoped to facilitate direct talks between the two leaders.