Trump accuses India, China of “funding” Ukraine war
(MENAFN) US President Donald Trump accused China and India of financially supporting the conflict in Ukraine by continuing to import Russian energy, speaking at the UN General Assembly in New York.
Trump has previously advocated for secondary sanctions against countries that maintain economic ties with Russia, arguing that such measures would heighten financial pressure. Both Beijing and New Delhi have rejected the US stance, calling it unacceptable and refusing to comply, according to reports.
“China and India are the primary funders of the ongoing war by continuing to purchase Russian oil,” Trump stated on Tuesday.
He also criticized NATO countries that continue to buy Russian oil and gas, suggesting they are effectively “funding the war against themselves” by relying on Russian energy while simultaneously “fighting Russia.”
Earlier this month, Trump called for the European Union to impose tariffs of up to 100% on Chinese and Indian products, a proposal met with pushback from European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, who insisted the bloc would “make its own decisions.”
In late August, the US imposed a 25% punitive tariff on Indian imports, raising overall import duties to 50% for most goods, citing India’s continued purchases of Russian oil. No new tariffs have yet been applied to China, following a temporary truce after a tariff conflict earlier this year, as stated by reports.
Both nations dismissed what they labeled as US economic coercion. India’s Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman confirmed that the country will “undoubtedly be buying Russian oil,” with imports rising 5.6% last month to 1.6 million barrels per day. Meanwhile, China condemned the US’s “illicit unilateral sanctions” and emphasized that maintaining normal trade, energy, and economic relations with all countries, including Russia, is “fully legitimate and lawful.”
During a recent trip to Beijing, Russian President Vladimir Putin warned the West against adopting a “colonial tone” toward China and India, arguing that efforts to punish them aim to slow their economic advancement.
Legal Disclaimer:
EIN Presswire provides this news content "as is" without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.
