US President Donald Trump has called on the European Union to impose tariffs of up to 100% on imports from India and China in a bid to increase pressure on Russian President Vladimir Putin to end the war in Ukraine, according to multiple media reports.
The proposal was made during a meeting in Washington on Tuesday between senior US and EU officials to discuss further measures aimed at tightening economic restrictions on Moscow. The Financial Times, BBC and Bloomberg, citing sources familiar with the talks, reported that the Trump administration is prepared to act immediately if European partners agree to join the initiative.
One US official was quoted as saying the administration was “ready to go, ready to go right now, but we are only going to do this if our European partners step up with us”.
The move comes amid growing frustration in Washington over the lack of progress in securing a peace agreement, despite high-profile diplomatic efforts, including a summit between Trump and Putin in Alaska. It also follows a sharp escalation in Russian military activity, with Ukraine suffering its largest drone assault of the war last week.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Trump said he expected to hold a call with Putin “this week or early next week”.
The tariff proposal follows a recent display of closer ties between Moscow, Beijing and New Delhi. Putin met Chinese President Xi Jinping and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at a summit in China, underscoring Russia’s efforts to strengthen alliances outside the West.
Last month, the United States raised tariffs on Indian imports to 50% in response to India’s continued purchases of Russian oil. Despite the proposed EU measures, Trump indicated that trade talks with New Delhi would continue.
In a post on his Truth Social platform on Tuesday, he wrote: “India, and the United States of America, are continuing negotiations to address the Trade Barriers between our two Nations. I look forward to speaking with my very good friend, Prime Minister Modi, in the upcoming weeks.”
The EU delegation at the Washington talks was led by David O’Sullivan, the bloc’s sanctions envoy, and included senior officials from the US Treasury Department. Discussions focused on coordinated economic measures to increase the cost to Russia of continuing its military campaign in Ukraine.
The proposal, if adopted, would mark a significant escalation in Western economic pressure, targeting two of Russia’s most important trading partners outside Europe and North America.
