US President Donald Trump on Tuesday said he was unaware that the United States continues to import uranium and fertilisers from Russia, a claim made by India as it defended its oil trade with Moscow amid mounting Western pressure.“I don’t know anything about it. I have to check it out,” Trump told ANI when asked about India’s accusation that Washington was unfairly targeting New Delhi while continuing its own trade with Russia.The remarks came a day after India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) issued a strong statement hitting back at criticism from the US and the European Union over its energy ties with Russia. The MEA said the criticism was “unjustified and unreasonable,” and highlighted that American firms continue to buy uranium hexafluoride, palladium, fertilisers, and other chemicals from Russia.The ministry added that India's purchases are based on "economic necessity" and reminded the US that it had previously "actively encouraged" India’s Russian oil imports to ensure global energy market stability.Trump hints at new tariffs over Russian oil tradeTrump, who is running for another term as president, also warned of a potential increase in tariffs on Indian goods as a response to its continued oil imports from Russia.“India has not been a good trading partner,” Trump said. “They do a lot of business with us, but we don't do business with them. So we settled on 25 percent, but I think I’m going to raise that very substantially over the next 24 hours, because they’re buying Russian oil. They’re fuelling the war machine.”He also hinted at broader action, suggesting that countries like China and India could face steep tariffs if they continue energy trade with Russia. “We’ll be doing quite a bit of that. We’ll see what happens over the next fairly short period of time,” Trump said.US envoy to meet Russian officials for peace talksTrump also revealed that US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff is scheduled to meet Russian leaders in Moscow on Wednesday. He said the goal of the talks is to bring the Ukraine-Russia war to an end.“This is the one I’m trying to stop. And one I’m working hardest on,” Trump said. “We will decide later on tariffs depending on how the talks go.”
VIDEO: Donald Trump red faced as journalist questions US-Russia trade
