Brussels: NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte has urged China, Brazil, and India to exert pressure on Russia to avoid facing US sanctions. Rutte emphasized the importance of these nations using their influence to encourage Russia towards serious peace negotiations.
According to Deutsche Welle, US President Donald Trump has expressed intentions to impose "very severe tariffs" against Russia if a resolution to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine is not achieved within 50 days. Furthermore, Trump has threatened to impose secondary tariffs of 100% on countries purchasing Russian exports, highlighting the potential economic repercussions for nations continuing trade with Russia.
Rutte's call to action is particularly directed at India, Brazil, and China due to their significant role in Moscow's energy trade. These countries, along with South Africa, form the BRICS alliance, which is seen as a counterbalance to US dominance. Trump's administration has already signaled intentions for increased tariffs on BRICS nations aligning with the bloc's strategic objectives.
US lawmakers have been proactive, working on a bipartisan bill that proposes even more stringent sanctions. This legislation aims to introduce a 500% tariff on goods imported from countries that persist in buying Russian oil, gas, uranium, and other exports.