President Donald Trump’s new tariff threats against Russia’s allies appear to be a direct consequence of a diplomatic dead end. The proposal for 100% duties on India and China comes after Trump’s frustration at failing to broker a peace deal, including at a high-profile but ultimately unsuccessful summit with Vladimir Putin in Alaska.
The failure to achieve a diplomatic breakthrough has seemingly pushed the administration toward more coercive economic measures. The war in Ukraine has continued to rage, with Russia recently launching its largest-ever air attack, adding to the sense of urgency and impatience in the White House.
In response, Trump has shifted his focus from Moscow to its key economic partners. The plan, presented to the EU, is to make it economically impossible for India and China to continue supporting Russia. A US official confirmed the administration is “ready to go” but requires European cooperation.
This pivot from diplomacy to economic warfare highlights the immense difficulty of resolving the Ukraine conflict. Trump, who has styled himself a dealmaker, has now resorted to a high-risk trade strategy that could have massive global repercussions, a clear sign that his talks with Putin have not yielded the desired results.