US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has said that imposing additional sanctions on Russia and countries buying its oil including India could trigger a total economic collapse, forcing President Vladimir Putin back to the negotiating table for peace talks with Ukraine.
&ldquo;We are in a race now between how long the Ukrainian military can hold up versus how long the Russian economy can hold up,&rdquo; Bessent commented. &ldquo;If the US and EU come in with more sanctions, more secondary tariffs on the countries that buy Russian oil, the Russian economy will be in full collapse, and that will bring President Putin to the table.&rdquo;
He did not explicitly name countries but India has been a prominent target of US tariffs over Russian oil imports, despite a recent thaw in relations where President Donald Trump and PM Narendra Modi publicly highlighted mutual respect and friendship.
&ldquo;We (the US) are prepared to increase pressure on Russia, but we need our partners in Europe to follow,&rdquo; Bessent added.
Russia has faced severe sanctions from the US and Europe since the war in Ukraine began, but has maintained buyers for its oil and gas in India, China, and elsewhere. US officials, including Vice President JD Vance, have described these tariffs as leverage to counter Russian aggression.
India has defended its Russian oil deals, arguing that the 25% US tariff bringing total import duties on many Indian products to 50% is unjustified and that its actions reflect sovereign national interest.
Bessent also expressed confidence that legal challenges to the sanctions will ultimately be upheld. &ldquo;I am confident that we will win at the Supreme Court,&rdquo; he said.
The warning comes as Russia escalated the war by bombing Kyiv&rsquo;s main government complex, an attack described by Ukraine and its European allies as a serious intensification of hostilities.
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Can US Sanctions Force Putin to Negotiate?

Treasury says pressure on Russia and its oil buyers could trigger economic collapse

Can US Sanctions Force Putin to Negotiate?

Treasury says pressure on Russia and its oil buyers could trigger economic collapse

September 7, 2025 | 20:23 IST