New Delhi: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has voiced support for US President Donald Trump’s decision to impose steep tariffs on countries maintaining energy trade with Russia, including India, calling it the “right idea.”
Speaking to American broadcaster ABC, Zelensky said Russia’s energy exports serve as a key weapon for President Vladimir Putin in the war against Ukraine and must be stopped.
“I think the idea to put tariffs on countries who continue to make deals with Russia is the right idea,” Zelensky said, when asked about a recent meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Putin in China.
Trump recently doubled tariffs on Indian goods to 50%, including an additional 25% levy specifically targeting India’s imports of Russian crude oil. New Delhi has criticized the move as “unfair, unjustified, and unreasonable,” while continuing to call for an end to the Ukraine conflict.
Zelensky also criticized European nations that continue to purchase Russian energy, saying they were undermining efforts to pressure Moscow. “We all understand that we need additional pressure on Putin. Some partners still buy oil and gas from Russia, and that is not fair. We have to stop buying any kind of energy from Russia,” he said.
“This is the only way to stop the killer. You have to take away his weapon — and energy is his weapon,” he added.
Commenting on Putin’s recent meeting with Trump in Alaska, Zelensky said it was “a pity” Ukraine was not included. “Trump gave Putin what he wanted — a meeting with the US President to show the world that he is relevant,” Zelensky remarked.
The Ukrainian leader also rejected Putin’s invitation to Moscow for peace talks, saying, “He can come to Kyiv. I can’t go to Moscow when my country is under missiles.”
Zelensky’s comments came just hours before Russia launched its largest-ever aerial assault on Ukraine, killing four people and setting government offices ablaze in Kyiv. In response, Trump told reporters he was “not happy with the whole situation” and signaled readiness to impose additional sanctions on Moscow.
Russia has escalated attacks since the August 15 Trump-Putin meeting, which failed to produce a ceasefire. Zelensky said he is counting on a “strong” US response.
