White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt holds a press briefing at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., August 19, 2025.
Credit: Reuters Photo
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt on Tuesday said that US President Donald Trump has imposed sanctions on India to bring an end to the Russia-Ukraine war.
“The President has put tremendous public pressure to bring this war to a close. He has taken actions as you seen sanctions on India and other actions as well. He has made himself very clear that he wants to see this war end,” she added.
In the same press briefing, Leavitt also claimed once again that the US president had used trade to halt the May 2025 conflict between India and Pakistan.
“We've seen it with the end of the conflict between India and Pakistan, which could have resulted in a nuclear war if we had not had a President who believed in the strength and the leverage that comes with the job of being the President of the United States of America,” Leavitt said.
Earlier in an interview to CNBC, US treasury secretary Scott Bessent also accused India of “profiteering” by reselling Russian oil.
US President Donald Trump imposed tariffs totalling 50 per cent on India including 25 per cent for New Delhi’s purchases of Russian oil that will come into effect from August 27.
India has called the tariffs “unjustified and unreasonable”.
India said that, like any major economy, it will take all necessary measures to safeguard its national interests and economic security.
With PTI inputs