Trump says new tariff law could help stop Russia-Ukraine war

Newyork,UPDATED: Sep 22, 2026 21:32 IST

US President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that he would use, if necessary, the wide tariff powers granted to him under a new law to try to end the Russia-Ukraine war. Speaking at the 81st session of the UN General Assembly, Trump said the conflict was causing heavy casualties and had to stop.

His remarks came days after he signed the 'Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026', which allows the US President to impose tariffs of up to 100 per cent on the top five importers of crude oil and gas from Russia, including China and India. The law argues that this trade has been a key source of funding for the war in Ukraine.

"We continue to seek an end to the disastrous war between Russia and Ukraine, which is killing tens of thousands of people per month," Trump said in his address to the UN General Assembly. "Last week, in honour of Senator Lindsey Graham, I signed a powerful new law passed by Congress providing me with enormous new tariff authorities - and if necessary, I will use them," Trump said.

"It is time to stop the killing," he said.

The Act also seeks to impose sanctions on Russia's leadership and energy sector, as well as on collaborators in Moscow's defence industry and its so-called shadow fleet. At the same time, it exempts the purchase of Russian uranium by the US for its nuclear reactors and medical isotopes needs, along with activities carried out under US-Russia cooperation in the space sector.

India has said it remains firmly committed to ensuring energy security for its 1.4 billion people and will continue to do so through diversified sourcing, in response to the US legislation on sanctions linked to Russia. Trump's comments at the UN underlined his position that the new law could be used, if needed, as part of efforts to bring the war to an end.

With PTI Inputs

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