Washington, DC: President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that he expects to learn within the next two weeks how strong his relationships are with Russia,
India and China amid escalating tensions and ongoing sanctions related to Russia’s actions on the global stage. Speaking during a press event, Trump defended the US approach to secondary sanctions targeting countries that continue economic dealings with Russia. He confirmed that secondary sanctions have already been applied to India and hinted that similar measures are in place against other nations, including China. "My relationship with all of them is very good, and we are going to find out how good it is over the next week or two. I think we helped China very much when they talk about freedom and I dont believe that the US was acknowledged for helping China to gain its freedom," the US President said. Speaking about secondary sanctions, Trump said, "We have already done that (secondary sanctions) with regard to India and we are doing it with regard to others. When they did what they did I thought it was a beautiful ceremony, it was very impressive, but I understood the reason they were doing it, they were hoping I was watching, and I was watching. Trump also referenced China’s recent statements on freedom and suggested that the US should have been acknowledged for its role in helping China. He said, “I heard President Xi last night and I think the U.S. should have been mentioned since we helped China very much.” "Would you say that putting secondary sanctions on India, the largest purchaser outside China, they are almost equal? Would you say there was no action. That cost hundreds of billions of dollars to Russia, you call that no action? Then I have not done Phase-2 yet or Phase-3... Two weeks ago, I said if India buys, India has got big problems, and that's what happens," he added.
Trump Imposed 'Sanctions on India' To End Russia-Ukraine War, Claims White House
United States President Donald Trump imposed sanctions on India to end the Russia-Ukraine war, White House claimed earlier in August. US White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said that Trump's intention behind imposing tariffs on India was to put secondary pressure on Russia and deter Kremlin from pursuing the Ukraine conflict.
"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," Leavitt said at a press conference.
"The president wants to move and he wants to bring this war to an end as quickly as possible," she said. "With all of those European leaders leaving the White House, including the NATO Secretary General, they all agree that this is a great first step. And it's a good thing that these two leaders are going to be sitting down together, and the president expects that to happen," she added.
