New York, Aug 6 (NationPress) US President Donald Trump stated that he is awaiting the outcome of discussions between Russia’s leaders and his special envoy Steve Witkoff in Moscow on Wednesday before making a decision on punitive tariffs for those purchasing oil from Russia.

During a press briefing on Tuesday afternoon, he remarked, “We have a meeting with Russia tomorrow. We'll see what unfolds, and we will make that determination then.”

Earlier on Tuesday morning, Trump cautioned that he would impose substantial tariffs on India within 24 hours. However, his afternoon comments suggested he might reconsider that stance if progress is made in talks aimed at resolving the Ukraine War.

When a reporter reminded him of his previous threat regarding a 100% tariff on nations buying Russian oil, the US president refuted it.

“I never specified a percentage, but we will be taking significant action,” he stated.

On July 14, he mentioned that “if we don’t reach an agreement in 50 days,” secondary tariffs on oil purchasers “would be set at 100%.” He later shortened this deadline to just 12 days, which ends this week.

In a morning segment with CNBC, Trump claimed that India would provide zero tariffs on imports from the US.

“India transitioned from the highest tariffs ever to offering us zero tariffs, allowing them to enter,” he explained. “However, that’s insufficient due to their actions concerning oil.”

As a result, he stated he would implement punitive tariffs in addition to the 25% he had announced recently.

Following the signing of an executive order establishing a task force for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, Trump reiterated his assertion that he had halted five wars in five months and expressed a desire to make the Ukraine War the sixth.

“I resolved nearly every one of them within days, including the India-Pakistan conflict,” he claimed.

During his campaign, Trump had promised to end the Ukraine War in 24 hours, and he is frustrated that Putin has taken a hardline stance against his efforts, which at one point pressured Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky.

India finds itself caught in the middle, with Trump attempting to apply economic pressure on Russia through threats directed at India, which relies on Russia for 70% of its oil.

Witkoff, appointed as Trump’s special envoy for the Middle East, has been tasked with collaborating with Russia’s President Vladimir Putin to seek an end to the Ukraine War.

Witkoff's latest visit to Moscow is perceived as a final opportunity for Russia to respond to Trump’s demands to conclude the war or face increased sanctions against itself and nations purchasing its oil.

Interestingly, India’s National Security Adviser Ajit Doval is currently in Moscow for pre-planned consultations with Russian officials, coinciding with the punitive tariff threats from Trump.

While the European Union and the US engage in trade with Russia, and several countries including China and Turkey purchase its oil, Trump has specifically targeted India, accusing it of financially supporting Russia's war efforts through oil purchases.

He alleged that India is profiting by reselling products made from Russian oil to other nations.

India has defended its purchases as a necessary economic measure rather than an endorsement of Russia’s war in Ukraine.

An External Affairs Ministry statement condemned the focus on India as “unjustified and unreasonable.”

Last year, the EU’s trade with Russia was estimated at $67.5 billion, while the US continues to import uranium hexafluoride for its nuclear sector, along with palladium for the EV industry, fertilizers, and chemicals, it noted.