He described India as one of Russia’s “largest or second-largest oil buyers,” emphasising New Delhi’s pivotal role in the global energy market.
Speaking at a White House press conference, Trump said Russia’s economy was “not doing well” and had been “very well disturbed” by a combination of US trade duties and wider international pressures.
“I think Russia needs to focus on rebuilding their country. It’s an enormous nation with tremendous potential,” Trump said. “Right now, they’re struggling
The president singled out India’s energy imports from Russia as a key pressure point in his administration’s strategy.
“It doesn’t help when the President of the United States tells their largest or second-largest oil buyer that we’re imposing a 50 per cent tariff on any oil purchased from Russia. That was a major blow,” Trump remarked, in a clear reference to India.
Under the Trump
Confirming his meeting with Putin in Alaska this Friday, Trump said: “I think it’s very respectful that the President of Russia is coming to our country instead of us travelling to his or to a neutral location. I expect our conversations to be constructive.”
He added that he would also engage with European leaders after the talks and hopes to facilitate a meeting between Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Trump further claimed that during his second term he has resolved five wars and repeated his assertion that he ended the conflict between India and Pakistan. However, India has consistently maintained that the ceasefire agreement with Pakistan was reached through direct talks between the Directors General of Military Operations of both nations.
