In a dramatic escalation of economic pressure tactics, U.S. President Donald Trump has called on the European Union to impose tariffs of up to 100% on China and India, aiming to squeeze Russian President Vladimir Putin into ending the ongoing war in Ukraine. The proposal, first reported by the Financial Times and confirmed by multiple outlets including BBC, Bloomberg, CNBC, and Reuters, was delivered during a high-stakes meeting between U.S. and EU officials in Washington on September 9, 2025.
Trump’s request marks a significant shift in Western strategy. Until now, the EU has primarily relied on sanctions to isolate Russia, steering clear of broad tariffs that might disrupt global trade flows. But with the war in Ukraine grinding on and Russia intensifying its attacks—including the heaviest aerial bombardment since the conflict began in 2022—pressure is mounting for more forceful action.
According to BBC, Trump’s demand came as Ukraine suffered devastating new strikes. Over the weekend preceding the announcement, Russian forces launched at least 810 drones and 13 missiles across Ukraine, culminating in a deadly attack on a government building in Kyiv. On Tuesday, September 9, more than 20 civilians were killed by a Russian glide bomb in the eastern Donbas region as they queued to collect their pensions—an incident described as both symbolic and a major escalation by the Kremlin.
Trump’s rationale for targeting China and India is straightforward: both nations are major buyers of Russian oil, providing Moscow with vital revenues that help sustain its military campaign. As Bloomberg and CNBC report, the U.S. has already imposed a 25% penalty on Indian goods linked to its Russian oil transactions, bringing total tariffs on Indian imports to 50% as of August 2025. India, for its part, has denounced these tariffs as "unfair, unjustified and unreasonable," while also highlighting ongoing trade between the U.S., EU, and Russia itself.
China, the largest purchaser of Russian oil, has so far avoided the harshest U.S. tariffs after negotiating a truce with Washington to limit new levies to 30%. However, China’s foreign ministry has publicly condemned the U.S. for using economic pressure and for involving China in discussions about Russia. "China firmly opposes the U.S. applying such so-called economic pressure," a spokesperson said at a regular press briefing, as reported by Reuters.
Trump’s proposal to the EU is not just rhetorical. According to a European diplomat cited by Reuters, "They are basically saying: We'll do this but you need to do it with us." The U.S. has signaled it is prepared to mirror any tariffs the EU imposes on China and India, seeking a united Western front to choke off Russia’s economic lifelines. The EU’s decision would represent a marked departure from its current approach, and the outcome of these discussions could reshape the global trade landscape.
Despite the tough talk, Trump’s efforts to broker a peace deal between Moscow and Kyiv have so far yielded little progress. A much-anticipated summit between Trump and Putin in Alaska last month ended without a breakthrough. After the meeting, Putin remarked that the "root causes" of the conflict needed to be addressed for a sustainable peace. Trump, for his part, acknowledged, "There were many, many points that we agreed on … I would say a couple of big ones that we haven't quite got there, but we've made some headway." Yet, the violence in Ukraine has only intensified since.
The economic stakes are high for all parties involved. According to the European Commission, the EU’s bilateral trade with Russia totaled 67.5 billion euros ($78.1 billion) in 2024, with services trade at 17.2 billion euros in 2023. Meanwhile, India’s trade with Russia reached a record $68.7 billion for the year ending March 2025—nearly six times higher than pre-pandemic levels, CNBC notes. China’s energy relationship with Russia remains robust, further complicating any Western attempt to isolate Moscow economically.
Energy dependency continues to be a sore spot for Europe. Despite pledges to end reliance on Russian energy, the EU still sourced about 19% of its natural gas imports from Russia in 2024, according to Reuters. Trump has previously criticized Europe for not fully decoupling from Russian supplies, even as the bloc insists it is committed to phasing them out. The question now is whether the threat of broad tariffs will prompt a more decisive break.
Amid these high-level maneuvers, Trump has sought to balance confrontation with diplomacy. On September 9, he announced on social media that the U.S. and India had resumed trade negotiations to address ongoing barriers. He described Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a "very good friend" and expressed confidence in reaching a successful conclusion. Modi, echoing Trump’s optimism, stated, "Our teams are working to conclude these discussions at the earliest. I am also looking forward to speaking with President Trump." The two leaders are expected to hold talks in the coming weeks.
Negotiations with China appear less promising. A late-August visit to Washington by top Chinese trade negotiator Li Chenggang ended with little progress, and both sides remain at odds over a range of issues. Meanwhile, Putin has been busy shoring up his alliances, meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Modi at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in Beijing last week. The optics suggest that Russia is far from isolated, despite Western efforts.
Back in Washington, the debate over how best to pressure Russia continues to divide policymakers. U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has said Washington is prepared to escalate economic pressure but needs stronger European backing. Some European officials remain wary of tariffs, fearing retaliation and further disruption to global supply chains. Others argue that only a united, aggressive approach will force Putin to the negotiating table.
For now, Trump’s call for 100% tariffs on China and India represents the latest—and perhaps boldest—move in a rapidly evolving geopolitical chess match. Whether the EU will heed the U.S. request remains uncertain, but the stakes could hardly be higher. As Russian bombs continue to fall on Ukrainian cities and the world’s economic powers jockey for leverage, the outcome of these talks could determine not only the fate of Ukraine, but the future of the global order.
Amid all this uncertainty, one thing is clear: the pressure on all sides is mounting, and the next moves will be watched closely by capitals around the world.