White House says tariffs aim to mount secondary pressure on Moscow; Trump pushes for swift peace talks with Putin and Zelenskyy.
Washington DC [US], August 20: In a dramatic move linking trade with geopolitics, US President Donald Trump has doubled tariffs on Indian goods to 50%, imposing an additional 25% levy on top of the existing 25%. According to White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, the decision is not directly targeted at New Delhi but is intended to put secondary pressure on Russia and accelerate efforts to end the ongoing war in Ukraine.
“The president has put tremendous public pressure to bring this war to a close. He has taken actions—sanctions on India and other measures as well. He has made himself very clear that he wants this war to end quickly,” Leavitt said during her Tuesday press briefing.
Tariffs as a Tool for Peace
The announcement comes just days after Trump met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the White House, where both leaders signaled readiness for a possible trilateral dialogue with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Trump described the meeting as “a very successful day,” while Zelenskyy called it the “best conversation” he had with the US President so far. According to Leavitt, the tariffs on India are part of a broader diplomatic strategy to increase the cost of Russia’s war.
Trump’s Urgency for Peace
Leavitt stressed that Trump is determined to end the conflict without delay.
“The president wants to move and he wants to bring this war to an end as quickly as possible. European leaders who met him at the White House, including the NATO Secretary General, agreed this is a great first step. They believe it is a good sign that Putin and Zelenskyy are expected to sit down together,” she said.
She confirmed that US officials are working behind the scenes to make the bilateral meeting between Russia and Ukraine a reality.
European Leaders Rush to Washington
Highlighting Trump’s diplomatic momentum, Leavitt revealed that several European leaders flew to Washington within 48 hours of Trump’s meeting with Putin, signaling the urgency and seriousness of the talks.
“The President met with European leaders at the White House just two days after sitting down with President Putin on American soil. They were grateful that he provided a readout of Russia’s thinking—something the previous administration never did,” Leavitt said.
Trump-Putin Equation: A Different Narrative
When asked whether Trump’s repeated claim—that the Ukraine war would never have started under his presidency—was realistic, Leavitt gave a striking answer: Putin himself agreed.
“The president often says that this war would not have started if he were in office. And President Putin himself confirmed that,” Leavitt said, adding that European leaders also share this assessment.
Security Beyond Trump’s Presidency
Concerns were raised about whether Trump’s push for security guarantees could outlast his presidency. Leavitt assured reporters that Trump is already working with NATO and European allies on a long-term peace framework.
“The President understands the need for lasting peace. He has spent significant time and energy in discussions with European leaders, NATO, and both sides of this conflict. He remains determined to bring this war to an end, and his commitment goes beyond short-term goals,” she explained.
The Bigger Picture
Trump’s approach combines economic pressure, rapid diplomacy, and unconventional tactics—like tariffs on India—to force movement on the Ukraine crisis. While the tariffs risk straining US-India trade relations, the White House insists the intent is to increase Moscow’s isolation and push for a negotiated settlement.
Whether this strategy succeeds will depend on the outcome of the anticipated Putin-Zelenskyy talks—talks that Trump is determined to make happen under his watch.
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