'Understandable to put tariffs on India but ...': Zelenskyy urges US action against Russia; makes big Putin claim

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Tuesday said that it may be “understandable” for Washington to impose tariffs on India and other nations for buying Russian oil, but warned the United States against waiting for others before acting against Vladimir Putin. The Ukrainian president argued that such delays only give Moscow more time to prepare, adding that the Russian leader is actively trying to manipulate his way out of global isolation.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with Sky News at the Presidential Palace in Kyiv, Zelenskyy said Putin had gained far too much from last month’s Alaska summit with Donald Trump, a meeting from which Ukraine was excluded. “He should have received a setback in this war and stop. But instead, he received de-isolation. He got the photos with President Trump. He received public dialogue, and I think this opens the doors for Putin into some other summits and formats,” he said.

'Doing everything he can to avoid sanctions'

Zelenskyy added that Putin is “doing everything he can to avoid sanctions” and agreed when asked whether the Kremlin leader was trying to trick the US president. “If you keep postponing applying sanctions any further, then the Russians will be better prepared,” he warned. For Zelenskyy, the Russian president “only understands force” and must face much stronger measures to be compelled to end the war.

The Ukrainian leader’s remarks come as Trump has urged Nato countries to stop importing Russian oil and floated tariffs of up to 100 per cent on China. While acknowledging that such steps “are understandable,” Zelenskyy insisted that the US should not wait on Europe or other partners before acting. “I think the US is strong enough on its own. They can make this happen quicker and all that’s lacking now is a strong sanctions package from the US,” he said.

Zelenskyy expressed frustration that the West has failed to impose enough costs on Moscow even as Russian strikes continue, including recent incursions into NATO airspace over Poland and Romania. He cautioned that giving Putin diplomatic space only emboldens him. “It is very important not to give Mr Putin this space, because otherwise he won’t feel compelled that he has to stop the war,” he said.

Until recently, the Trump administration also targeted India over its purchase of Russian oil, imposing an additional 25% tariff on top of a baseline of 25% tariff. New Delhi has called the move unreasonable and unjustified.