With a Friday deadline for Russia to agree to peace in Ukraine or have its oil customers face secondary tariffs, Trump has found a novel, but risky, use for his favorite trade tool.

Trump suggested that Russia’s economic potential is being wasted due to global pressures and U.S. tariffs. “Their economy is not doing well right now because it’s been very well disturbed by this,” he said, singling out India’s purchases of Russian oil.

India, which now faces among the highest tariff rates imposed by the US, called the levy "unjustified and unreasonable".