WASHINGTON, Sept 11:  US President Donald Trump has called on the European Union (EU) to impose tariffs of up to 100% on China and India to compel Russian President Vladimir Putin to end the war in Ukraine.

Trump made the request during a meeting between US and EU officials on Tuesday to discuss measures to increase economic pressure on Moscow, a source familiar with the discussions told the BBC. The Financial Times and Bloomberg also reported on the request, citing multiple sources.

One US official said the Trump administration was “ready to go, ready to go right now, but we are only going to do this if our European partners step up with us.”

Trump, who previously pledged to end the conflict on "day one" of his presidency, has struggled to broker a peace deal between Moscow and Kyiv as Russian strikes on Ukraine intensify. Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Trump said he plans to speak with Putin “this week or early next week.”

China and India are major buyers of Russian oil, helping sustain the country’s economy and military operations. Last month, the US imposed a 50% tariff on goods from India, including a 25% penalty for transactions involving Russia. Although the EU has pledged to reduce dependency on Russian energy, approximately 19% of its natural gas imports still come from Russia. If implemented, the tariffs would mark a shift from the EU’s approach of isolating Russia through sanctions rather than levies.

Trump’s request follows remarks from US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who said Washington was prepared to escalate economic pressure but needed stronger European backing.

The intensifying conflict was highlighted over the weekend when Ukraine’s main government building in Kyiv was struck by a Russian missile, in an attack described as both symbolic and a major escalation by the Kremlin. Ukrainian authorities reported that Russian forces used at least 810 drones and 13 missiles, marking the heaviest aerial bombardment since the war began. On Tuesday, a Russian glide bomb killed more than 20 civilians in eastern Donbas as they queued to collect pensions.

Trump said he was “not happy with the whole situation” and threatened harsher sanctions on the Kremlin. The former president has previously pledged tougher measures against Russia, but has yet to take action despite Putin ignoring deadlines and threats. A summit between Trump and Putin in Alaska last month ended without a peace agreement.

Trump also addressed US-India trade relations on Tuesday. Writing on Truth Social, he said, “India, and the United States of America, are continuing negotiations to address the Trade Barriers between our two Nations. I look forward to speaking with my very good friend, Prime Minister Modi, in the upcoming weeks.”

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi echoed Trump’s optimism, saying the talks were expected to be successful and describing the two nations as “close friends and natural partners.” He added, “Our teams are working to conclude these discussions at the earliest. I am also looking forward to speaking with President Trump.”

Trump’s comments are seen by some as a sign of reconciliation between Washington and Delhi following a collapse in trade negotiations. Last week, Trump emphasized the “special relationship” between India and the US, saying, “there’s nothing to worry about. We just have moments on occasion.”

The call for EU tariffs comes amid growing cooperation between Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping, and Modi, following a summit in China. EU officials, led by the bloc’s sanctions chief David O’Sullivan, participated in the Washington discussions, which also included senior US Treasury officials.