President Donald Trump’s frustrated efforts to broker peace, from a summit with Vladimir Putin in Alaska to talks in Washington, have culminated in a major new threat: massive tariffs on Russia’s key allies. Trump has now asked the European Union to join the US in a plan to levy duties of up to 100% on India and China to force an end to the war in Ukraine.
This shift from high-level diplomacy to aggressive economic coercion reflects the White House’s growing impatience with the conflict. A US official confirmed the proposal but emphasized that it is contingent on a partnership with the EU. “We are only going to do this if our European partners step up with us,” the official said.
The proposal directly targets the relationships Putin has cultivated with China and India, which have been crucial to sustaining the Russian economy. The US has already acted on this front, imposing a 50% tariff on India for its Russian oil purchases. This new plan would be a monumental escalation of that policy.
This aggressive turn is further complicated by a looming legal decision. The US Supreme Court is set to rule on the legality of Trump’s tariff powers. An unfavorable verdict would not only block this new strategy but would also force the US government to refund tens of billions of dollars, a “terrible” outcome according to the Treasury Secretary.