US President Donald Trump on Wednesday issued a strong warning to India, saying he has not yet implemented “phase two” or “phase three” sanctions over India’s purchase of Russian oil.

While speaking at a bilateral meeting in the Oval Office with Polish President Karol Nawrocki, Trump grew irritated when a Polish reporter questioned him about his frustration with Russian President Vladimir Putin and why there had been no direct action.

Trump sharply responded, “How do you know there's no action? Would you say that putting secondary sanctions on India, the largest purchaser outside of China — they're almost equal — would you say there was no action? That cost hundreds of billions of dollars to Russia. You call that no action?”

Trump Hints at Further Measures

The US President made it clear that tougher steps could be taken if needed.
He said, “And I haven't done phase two or phase three yet. But when you say there is no action, I think you ought to get yourself a new job.”

Trump also recalled a warning he issued two weeks ago, saying, “If India buys, India's got big problems, and that's what happens. So, don't tell me about that.”

This statement underlined his administration’s growing pressure on India to reduce its energy ties with Moscow amid the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

White House Confirms Call with Zelensky

Meanwhile, a White House official told AFP that Trump will speak with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Thursday.
This call comes after Zelensky and several European leaders publicly stated that they expected a discussion with the US President soon.

When asked about his message to Putin, Trump replied, “I have no message to President Putin, he knows where I stand, and he will make a decision one way or the other.”
He added, “Whatever his decision is, we will either be happy about it or unhappy. And if we are unhappy about it, you will see things happen.”

Secondary Sanctions and High-Level Tariffs

During the discussion, a reporter asked Trump about Putin’s meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and Chinese President Xi Jinping during China’s military parade.

When questioned whether he planned to impose secondary sanctions on Moscow, Trump said, “Well, I have already done that with regard to India, and we are doing it with regard to other things.”

Trump has already imposed a 25% reciprocal tariff on India, along with an additional 25% levy specifically for India’s Russian oil purchases. This has raised the total duties on India to 50%, effective August 27.

India Pushes Back Against US Pressure

In response, Prime Minister Narendra Modi firmly stated that India will not compromise on its national interests, especially concerning farmers, cattle-rearers, and small-scale industries.
Modi said, “Pressure on us may increase, but we will bear it.”

The Indian government has officially labeled the US tariffs as “unjustified and unreasonable.”

Rising Tensions Over Energy and Trade

This development marks a significant escalation in trade tensions between Washington and New Delhi.
The US sees India as one of the largest buyers of Russian oil, second only to China, and believes this trade gives Moscow vital revenue amid Western sanctions.

However, India has consistently argued that its purchases are based on domestic energy security needs and economic stability, not geopolitical alignments.

As Trump hints at additional sanctions, global markets and diplomatic circles are watching closely to see if the situation escalates further.