US President Donald Trump on Sunday signalled he is ready to impose another round of sanctions on Russia over the war in Ukraine a move that could also hit countries like India that continue to import Russian oil.
Asked about possible new sanctions during an interaction with reporters at the White House, Trump gave a blunt reply: “Yeah, I am.” He offered no further details, but the remark echoes growing signals from his administration about tougher economic measures targeting Moscow and its trading partners.
Earlier, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent publicly pressed for stricter penalties on nations still importing Russian crude. He argued that only a near-collapse of Russia’s economy could push President Vladimir Putin toward peace talks.
“More sanctions and secondary tariffs on countries buying Russian oil would cut off Moscow’s revenue stream and force Putin to the table,” Bessent told NBC.
Despite repeated US and EU sanctions, Russia has maintained steady revenues by selling discounted crude to India, China and other buyers. Washington has frequently criticised New Delhi’s purchases, with some officials even dubbing the conflict “Modi’s war.” Vice President JD Vance recently said tariffs on Indian exports are being used as leverage, while Trump accused India of “fuelling the Russian war machine.”
Currently, many Indian goods face a 25 percent penal tariff, lifting the total import duty to 50 percent. New Delhi has defended its position, stressing that energy imports are guided by national interest.
The remarks come just days after a warm exchange between Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on social media, underscoring the uneasy balance in bilateral ties.
Meanwhile, the war escalated Sunday as Russian forces struck Kyiv’s main government complex, heightening fears of a prolonged conflict.
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