'Aggressive Leverage': JD Vance Says Trump Put Tariffs On India To Force Russia On Ukraine War

Last Updated:August 25, 2025, 07:15 IST

Vance said that such a measure was part of Washington's plan to make it difficult for Russia to collect high revenues from its oil trade. 

US Vice President JD Vance. (File photo)

US Vice President JD Vance on Sunday said Donald Trump imposed secondary tariffs on India as “aggressive economic leverage" aimed at pressuring Russia to end the war in Ukraine.

Vance told NBC News’ ‘Meet the Press’ that such a measure was part of Washington’s plan to make it difficult for Russia to collect high revenues from its oil trade.

“Trump has applied aggressive economic leverage, for example secondary tariffs on India, to try to make it harder for the Russians to get rich from their oil economy," Vance said.

The Trump administration has repeatedly voiced opposition to India’s purchase of discounted Russian oil, yet it has notably avoided criticising China, the largest buyer of Moscow’s crude.

During the interview, Welker asked, “The question is, if the US is not imposing new sanctions, what is the pressure on Russia? How do you get them to a place of getting to the table with Zelenskyy and stopping to drop bombs?"

In response, Vance said Trump’s tariff move was a calculated effort to drive Moscow toward talks.

“He tried to make it clear that Russia can be reinvented into the world economy if they stop the killing. But they are going to continue to be isolated if they don’t stop the killing," Vance explained.

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