Sun Sep 07 18:34:45 UTC 2025: **Headline: US Threatens Secondary Sanctions, Warns of Russian Economic Collapse**
Washington, D.C. – The US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent warned on Sunday that the Russian economy faces imminent collapse if the United States and the European Union impose further secondary sanctions on countries purchasing Russian crude oil. Bessent made the statement during an interview with NBC News, outlining the Trump administration’s strategy to intensify pressure on Moscow amidst the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
According to Bessent, President Trump and Vice President Vance recently held productive discussions with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen regarding coordinated efforts to increase pressure on Russia.
The US has already taken steps to penalize nations continuing to buy Russian oil, including imposing a significant 50% tariff on India for its purchases, effective August 27th. This includes an additional 25% tariff on top of existing reciprocal tariffs.
“We are in a race now between how long can the Ukrainian military hold up versus how long can the Russian economy hold up,” Bessent stated. He emphasized that coordinated sanctions targeting countries buying Russian oil would cripple the Russian economy, potentially forcing President Putin to negotiate.
President Trump expressed his disappointment regarding India’s oil purchases from Russia, stating, “We put a very big tariff on India, 50 per cent tariff, very high tariff.” He acknowledged his positive relationship with Prime Minister Modi but reiterated the administration’s stance on India’s actions.
The imposition of these tariffs has strained US-India relations, which are reportedly at their worst point in two decades. Several US officials, including Bessent and trade advisor Peter Navarro, have argued that India’s continued purchase of Russian oil is effectively financing the Russian war effort.
India has strongly refuted these claims, labeling the US tariffs “unjustified and unreasonable.” The Indian government maintains that its energy procurement decisions are solely driven by national interest and market dynamics.
The US is urging its European partners to follow suit in imposing secondary sanctions to maximize the impact on the Russian economy. The success of this strategy hinges on international cooperation and the willingness of nations to reduce their reliance on Russian oil.
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