In a significant endorsement of hardline economic measures, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has expressed his support for US President Donald Trump’s policy of imposing steep tariffs on trading partners who continue to do business with Russia, a list that includes key nations like India.
Zelensky’s comments, made in an interview with American broadcaster ABC, frame the ongoing conflict not just as a military struggle but as an economic war, where Moscow’s energy exports are a primary weapon.
"A Right Idea" to Stop the "Killer"
When asked about recent diplomatic engagements, including the meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Vladimir Putin, Zelensky did not mince words. “I think the idea to put tariffs on countries who continue to make deals with Russia is a right idea,” he stated.
This aligns with Trump’s announced policy, which has seen tariffs on Indian goods double to 50 percent, with an additional 25 percent levy specifically targeting India’s purchase of Russian crude oil. India, a longstanding strategic partner of both Russia and the US, has denounced these tariffs as "unfair, unjustified and unreasonable" and has consistently called for a diplomatic end to the war.
Zelensky’s criticism, however, was not reserved for distant nations. He also took aim at Ukraine’s European partners, expressing gratitude for their support but lambasting those who continue to purchase Russian oil and gas. “This is not fair... So we have to stop buying any kind of energy from Russia,” he argued.
The Ukrainian leader used stark language to describe the urgency of the situation, directly linking energy revenue to the violence inflicted on his country. “This is only one way how to stop the killer. You need to take off his weapon. Energy is his weapon,” Zelensky said.
Zelensky also firmly rejected a recent invitation from President Putin to hold talks in Moscow, a proposal he dismissed out of hand. “He (Putin) can come to Kyiv... I can't go to Moscow when my country is under missiles,” he declared, underscoring the vast gulf between the two leaders’ terms for negotiation.
Furthermore, he expressed dismay at the high-profile meeting between Trump and Putin in Alaska, which was portrayed as a sign of respect for the Russian leader. “It's a pity that Ukraine was not there,” Zelensky noted, adding, “Trump gave Putin what he wanted... he wanted to meet the US President... Putin wanted to show everybody that he is there.”
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