Trump threatened Russia with tough sanctions

US President Donald Trump, speaking on Fox News, threatened to "hit RUSSIA very hard with sanctions" and said he was "running out of patience" with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Among the possible restrictions, the White House chief mentioned sanctions against banks, oil, and tariffs. Trump recalled that he had imposed an additional 25 percent tariff on Indian imports due to their purchases of Russian oil, bringing New Delhi's tariff to 50 percent. He added, "It wasn't easy."

"When Putin wanted to do it (achieve a settlement), Zelenskyy didn't. When Zelenskyy wanted to do it, Putin didn't. Now Zelenskyy wants to do it, and Putin is a question mark," Trump noted.

The US is demanding that Russia abandon its oil supply to India for a trade deal, US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said. He explained that New Delhi is buyingoil at a discount of $7-10, refines it and then resells it around the world.

India deemed the restrictions unfair and decided to continue purchasing Russian oil, despite US demands. Indian Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas Hardeep Puri noted that Russian oil supplies helped protect the global economy from price hikes.

The Wall Street Journal and Financial Times reported that Washington is demanding that European countries also impose tariffs on India and CHINA to increase pressure on Russia. Furthermore, the US is insisting that the EU abandon Russian energy supplies. According to a WSJ source, the EU does not use tariffs as a tool of pressure on other countries.

The EU-US trade agreement stipulates a transition away from Russian energy supplies, and European countries will switch to American energy supplies. The EU has promised to do so by the end of next year.

The EU is paying particular attention to the process of refusing to purchase Russian energy resources when preparing the next, 19th, package of sanctions against Russia, said EC President Ursula von der Leyen.

Moscow considers the sanctions illegal and demands their lifting.

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