The White House has confirmed that US President Donald Trump’s imposition of sanctions on India, including tariffs totaling 50 percent with an additional 25 percent levy on New Delhi’s purchases of Russian oil effective August 27, 2025, is intended to exert secondary pressure on Russia to end its ongoing war in Ukraine, which began in February 2022. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated on August 19, 2025, that these measures, doubling the previous 25 percent tariff, form part of Trump’s strategy to apply tremendous public pressure and facilitate a swift resolution, including through diplomatic efforts like his recent meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and openness to a trilateral discussion with Russian President Vladimir Putin. India has rejected the tariffs as unjustified and unreasonable, vowing to safeguard its economic interests amid accusations from US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent that New Delhi is profiteering from reselling Russian oil. Meanwhile, Russia has offered India a 5 percent discount on oil supplies in response to the escalating tensions, while China, the largest importer of Russian energy, has faced no similar penalties.