‘We’re going to crush your economic system’: US Senator warns India, China, Brazil over ‘low-cost’ Russian oil; threatens to ‘tariff the hell out’

US Senator Lindsey Graham has warned that international locations like India, China, and Brazil, all BRICS members might face sharp financial sanctions in the event that they “keep buying cheap Russian oil.”Speaking on Fox News, Graham mentioned, “I would tell China, India & Brazil. If you keep buying cheap Russian oil, to allow this war to continue, we will tariff the hell out of you,” calling for more durable motion to minimize off Russia’s income amid the ongoing battle in Ukraine.“And we’re going to crush your economy, because what you are doing is blood money” he added.His feedback come amid escalating rhetoric in the US in opposition to international locations seen as financially supporting Russia throughout its ongoing battle in Ukraine. Graham’s assertion aligns with broader Republican strain on US allies and commerce companions to isolate Moscow economically.US President Donald Trump, talking alongside Nato Secretary General Mark Rutte in the Oval Office, echoed this hardline stance. He introduced that the US would impose 100% “secondary tariffs” on nations that proceed shopping for Russian oil and fuel if Russian President Vladimir Putin doesn’t agree to a peace deal inside the subsequent 50 days.Trump, visibly annoyed with Putin, mentioned, “My conversations with him are very pleasant, and then the missiles go off at night.” He emphasised that these tariffs weren’t the finish objective however a way to carry Putin to the negotiating desk.“He’s fooled a lot of people,” Trump mentioned of Putin, who he known as a “tough guy.” “He fooled Clinton, Bush, Obama, Biden – he didn’t fool me,” Trump mentioned.“We’re going to be doing secondary tariffs,” he added.Also learn:Russia oil squeeze: Trump’s 100% tariff risk – ought to India panic?Earlier, US Senators Lindsey Graham and Richard Blumenthal had warned that these international locations might face financial sanctions in the event that they proceed buying and selling with Russia.Graham and Blumenthal, who belong to totally different political events, have launched a invoice in the US Congress earlier this 12 months, that proposes robust sanctions on Russia.“We’ll continue to push for Senator Graham & my Russia Sanctions bill with even tougher penalties to deter India, China, Brazil & others from fueling Putin’s war machine. Congressional action sends a powerful message of support,” Senator Blumenthal posted on X.The invoice proposes imposing tariffs as excessive as 500 % of nations that proceed shopping for Russian vitality exports. In a joint assertion, the Senators argued that nations like India, China, and Brazil are not directly financing the battle by buying closely discounted Russian oil and fuel.“The ultimate hammer to bring about the end of this war will be tariffs against countries, like China, India and Brazil, that prop up Putin’s war machine by purchasing cheap Russian oil and gas. President Trump’s decision to announce the implementation of 100 percent secondary tariffs on countries that buy Russian oil and gas if a peace agreement is not reached in the next 50 days is a real executive hammer to drive the parties to the negotiating table. The goal is not more tariffs and sanctions – the goal is to entice Putin to come to the peace table,” the assertion learn. “Finally, as President Trump indicated, we will join our colleagues in continuing to work with the White House on our bipartisan Russia sanctions legislation that would implement up to 500 percent tariffs on countries that buy Russian oil and gas and do not help Ukraine,” it added.India, a significant purchaser of Russian oil since the begin of the Ukraine battle, has defended its place, citing vitality safety and financial stability. Earlier, External affairs minister S Jaishankar mentioned that Indian officers have already been in contact with Senator Graham over the proposed laws.US is ramping up strain not solely on Russia but in addition on its buying and selling companions. Trump’s transfer is a part of a wider Republican plan to squeeze Putin’s battle funds and speed up a decision to the battle in Ukraine, which has now lasted greater than three years.Also learn: EU restrictions on Russian oil might hit India’s $15 billion gasoline exports; ‘may have to stroll a high quality line…’