Trump sanctioned India to put pressure on Russia: White House

Speaking to the reporters, 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."

Trump meets Zelenskyy and Putin to end the war

Trump on Tuesday said he has started arranging for a meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Ukrainian counterpart in a bid to end the ongoing war, hours after he met Volodymyr Zelenskyy and other European leaders in Washington DC.

The US president met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska last week.

Friday’s Alaska summit marked the first US-Russia meeting since Moscow launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022.

The three-hour session ended without a ceasefire, but Trump insisted the talks had shifted the focus toward a broader settlement.

US imposes extra 25 percent tariff on India for purchasing Russian oil

The Trump administration, which was earlier viewed as India-friendly, has slapped a 25 percent tariff on the South Asian country for its high tariffs on American exports and another 25 percent for purchasing oil from Russia which is fighting a war against Ukraine.

The White House, which has singled out India over Russian oil purchase, said the second 25 percent tariff will be effective from August 27, 2025.

India calls Trump's 25 pct additional tariffs 'unfair, unjustified'

In a calm but strongly worded statement, New Delhi said the extra tariff was "unfair, unjustified and unreasonable" and declared that it would "take all actions necessary to protect national interests".

Within hours, the Ministry of External Affairs, in a statement, said the United States "has in recent days targeted India's oil imports from Russia".

"We have already made clear our position on these issues, including the fact that our imports are based on market factors and done with the overall objective of ensuring the energy security of 1.4 billion people of India. It is therefore extremely unfortunate that the US should choose to impose additional tariffs on India for actions that several other countries are also taking in their own national interest".

"We reiterate that these actions are unfair, unjustified and unreasonable. India will take all actions necessary to protect its national interests," the statement added in no uncertain terms.

Modi says 'no compromise'

On the occasion of his country's 79th Independence Day celebrations, India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi last Friday reiterated his opposition to any policy that will affect the interests of farmers, fisherfolk and livestock rearers, amid the tariff war.

Modi said, "I will stand like a wall against any policy that is detrimental to the interests of farmers, fisherfolk and livestock rearers."

"India will never compromise on the interests of its farmers, livestock rearers, and fisherfolk," the Prime Minister, who was delivering the address from Red Fort, added.