American vice president JD Vance. File | Photo Credit: Reuters
American vice president JD Vance on Sunday (August 24, 2025) said that President Donald Trump used “aggressive economic leverage”, such as “secondary tariffs in India” to force Russia to stop the bombing of Ukraine.
Mr. Vance spoke “Meet the Press” during an exclusive interview about the NBC News when he also said that he would “make” the step for Russians to get rich from their oil economy.
Trump’s administration was very critical to India for awarding orders of discounted oil from Russia. Interestingly, Washington did not criticize China, the greatest importer of Russian oil.
India claims that its energy contracts, including Russia, are led by the national interest and dynamics of the market.
Mr. Vance remained convinced that the US can mediate the end of the war between Russia and Ukraine, despite the potential suspension that has appeared since the meeting of President Trump with Russian President Vladimir Putin, NBC News said.
“We believe that we have already seen some important concessions from both sides, just in the last few weeks,” Vance said in an interview broadcast on Sunday (August 24, 2025) in the morning.
If the US “does not impose new sanctions”, what is the pressure on Russia? “How do you get them to the place where you get to the table with Zeletskyy and stop the bombs?” Moderator Kristen Welker asked.
For example, Mr. Trump used “aggressive economic leverage”, such as “secondary tariffs in India, to try to make the Russians difficult to interfere with their oil from their oil economy,” Mr. Vance replied.
“He tried to clarify that Russia could be revived into the world economy if they stop killing. But they will continue to isolate if they do not stop killing,” he said.
At the beginning of April 22, Mr. Vance, when he spoke in Jaipur, urged India to abandon non -tariff barriers, provided more access to her markets, and bought more American energy and military hardware as he distributed a wider map of deeper ties between the two nations for the “prosperous and peaceful” 21st century.
Since Mr. Trump has doubled the tariffs to Indian goods to an incredible 50%, including 25% of additional obligations for Indian purchase of Russian oil, relations between the new Delhi and Washington are in decline.
The US claimed that Indian purchases of Russian oil funds Moscow’s war in Ukraine, which is a fee strongly rejected by India.
The new Delhi turned to the purchase of Russian oil sold for a discount after the Western countries deposited sanctions on Moscow and avoided its supplies over the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
On Saturday (August 23, 2025), the Minister of External Affairs S. Jaishankar said at the event in New Delhi: “It is fun to have people who work for the US Pro-Business administration who blame other people in business.”
He responded to the question of US critics in India on oil.
“That’s really curious. If you have a problem buying oil or refined products from India, don’t buy it. No one forces you to buy. But Europe will buy, America will buy, so you do not like it, do not buy it,” said Mr. Jaishankar.
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Published – August 25, 2025 12:26 PM
