Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky recently said that “it’s the right idea” to put tariffs on the countries which continue to make deals with Russia.
In an interview with ABC network Zelensky elaborated about his views on the current tariff clash and the pressure that can be exerted on Russia. The focus quite predictably was on India who have refused to stop oil trade with Russia despite 50% tariffs by the US.
“When you saw [PM] Modi there, who has helped Russia…so did the plan backfire of trying to put sanctions on them?,” the interviewer asked Zelensky pointing to the recent SCO meet where Modi, Putin and Xi were all present at the event.
Zelensky responded, “I think the idea to put tariffs on the countries which continue to make deals with Russia, I think, this is right idea.”
Attack on Putin
During the interview, Zelensky highlighted the need for for “additional pressure on Putin.”
“We all understand that we need additional pressure on Putin. We need pressure from the United States. And I said that I think President Trump is right about that…,” Zelensky said.
“To be open and to be clear, it’s not fair. So we have to stop to buy any kind of energy from Russia…we can’t have any deals if we want to solve them [conflict],” Zelensky said.
“I really counted President Trump will do it, will pressure Putin and this is one way how to stop the killer you need to take off his I mean this to take off his weapon. Energy is his weapon,” Zelensky said
Zelenskyy also claimed that Russian President Vladimir Putin does not want negotiations and Russia’s fuel shortage is a “logical response.”
“Putin does not want negotiations, he is clearly hiding from them, so Russia’s fuel shortages and other economic troubles are the logical response to its refusal to agree to a ceasefire or a meeting at the leaders’ level,” he said.
He also rejected the Russian Presidnet Putin’s invite to Moscow for talks, and said, “He (Putin) can come to Kyiv… I can’t go to Moscow when my country is under missiles.”
US believes they can blackmail Putin and Modi
Meanwhile the Trump administration, earlier this month, ramped up attacks on India for buying Russian oil, with Navarro characterizing the Russia-Ukraine conflict as “Modi’s war,” and cautioning New Delhi about getting close to Beijing and Moscow.
Trump has imposed 25 per cent reciprocal tariffs on India and an additional 25 per cent for Delhi’s purchases of Russian oil.
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said over the weekend that Russia’s economy would “collapse” if the U.S. and European Union expand secondary sanctions on countries purchasing Moscow’s crude. “If the U.S. and EU can come in, do more sanctions, secondary tariffs on the countries that buy Russian oil, the Russian economy will be in full collapse. That will bring President Putin to the table,” Bessent told NBC News.
Meanwhile India has termed the tariffs imposed on it as “unjustified and unreasonable. Like any major economy, India will take all necessary measures to safeguard its national interests and economic security,” India has said.
With both sides coming to an impasse it seems the trade and tariff clash is bound to continue with India refusing to adhere to the western diktats. It remains to be seen how far will the US now push India, are they willing to lose India as an ally or will they promote a regime change operation to dislodge Modi. India too will not sit back, it has stuck to its stand and is ready to take on any Western narratives. Either way it does not bode well for the world economy and world peace.
