US President Donald Trump announced on Monday a drastic increase in tariffs on India in retaliation for India's purchases and resale of Russian oil."They don't care how many people in Ukraine are dying at the hands of Russia's war machine," he wrote in a message on his social media platform, Truth. The Republican did not specify the target figure for the tariffs on Indian exports.

Trump's announcement confirms the US president's apparent determination to impose economic sanctions and tariffs on Russia if President Vladimir Putin does not agree to a ceasefire in Ukraine before the expiration of his ultimatum this Friday. The Republican now seems convinced that his counterpart has no intention of ending the war. It is a 180-degree turn from his position on the conflict since February, when the Republican began a rapprochement with Moscow that sowed consternation among his Western allies and in which he appeared to accept each and every one of the Kremlin's demands and justifications.

“India is not only buying massive amounts of Russian oil, but much of it is being resold on the open market at huge profits,” the US president stated in his social media message. “Therefore, I will substantially raise the tariffs India pays to the United States,” he added.

Last week, Washington announced the imposition of 25% tariffs on India as part of widespread tariffs on the vast majority of countries around the world, which include a 15% tariff on products from the European Union. These tariffs will take effect this Thursday, August 7.

Trump's announcement comes a day after the US president announced that his special envoy for the Middle East and Russia, Steve Witkoff, would travel to Moscow this week, just before his ultimatum expires.

India is the second largest importer of Russian oil in the world, behind only China. Although Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi have boasted of maintaining a close relationship, the American has become increasingly hostile toward the Asian giant. So far, Trump has not announced any punitive measures against Beijing for its crude oil purchases from Moscow.

Trump"wants a phenomenal relationship and has always had a phenomenal relationship with India and its prime minister," White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller told CNN this weekend."But we have to be realistic about how to address the funding of this war," he added.

“India presents itself as one of our closest friends in the world, but they don't accept our products, they impose huge tariffs on us... and of course, we're seeing the purchase of [Russian] oil again,” Trump's adviser insisted.