Washington D.C.: United States Senator Lindsey Graham has issued a strong warning to nations continuing to purchase crude oil from Russia, claiming that President Donald Trump will impose sweeping 100% tariffs on countries such as India, China, and Brazil. The move, according to Graham, is intended to choke off financial support to Russia’s war efforts in Ukraine.
Speaking on Fox News, Graham specifically called out the three nations, stating, “Trump is going to impose tariffs on people that buy Russian oil: China, India, and Brazil. Those three countries buy about 80 per cent of cheap Russian oil, and that’s what keeps [Vladimir] Putin’s war machine going. So, President Trump is going to put a 100 per cent tariff on all those countries, punishing them for helping Putin.”
Senator Graham emphasized that the Russian economy continues to sustain itself through oil revenues and that nations buying discounted Russian oil are, in effect, enabling the war in Ukraine.
He underscored that the Kremlin may survive sanctions directly targeted at Russia but would find it harder to maneuver if global buyers faced economic penalties.
“Russia can live through these sanctions, but China, India, and Brazil are about to face a stark choice between aligning with the American economy or supporting Putin’s regime. And I believe they’ll pick the American economy,” Graham added.
Putin’s Ambitions and the Ukraine Conflict
The Republican Senator did not hold back in his criticism of Russian President Vladimir Putin, accusing him of attempting to recreate the Soviet-era influence over Eastern Europe.
Referring to the 1990s nuclear disarmament deal, Graham reminded viewers that Ukraine had relinquished nearly 1,700 nuclear weapons in exchange for security guarantees — a commitment he claims Putin violated.
“Putin wants to annex territories that never belonged to him. Ukraine gave up its nuclear arsenal under a promise that its sovereignty would be respected. That promise was broken. He’s not going to stop until someone makes him stop,” Graham said.
Graham also alluded to a shift in global strategy should Trump return to office, suggesting a more aggressive American foreign policy aimed at isolating Russia economically and militarily.
He said that the Trump administration would accelerate the supply of military equipment to Ukraine, boosting the country’s ability to resist Russian aggression.
Harsh Message to Global Oil Buyers
In a direct message to China, India, and Brazil, Graham warned that their continued engagement with Russian oil markets would have consequences.
“Here’s what I would tell China, India, and Brazil: If you keep buying cheap Russian oil to allow this war to continue, we’re going to tear the hell out of you and crush your economy, because what you are doing is blood money,” the Senator declared.
He accused the nations of prioritizing discounted energy over global stability and human rights. “You’re buying cheap Russian oil at the expense of the world, and President Trump is tired of this game,” Graham added, pointing to what he called a global reckoning led by the United States.
According to the Senator, Trump’s strategy is aimed not only at curbing Russia’s capacity to wage war but also at sending a clear message to the international community: support for Putin will come at a heavy economic price.
“Trump Will Crush Putin”
In a fiery set of remarks aimed directly at Vladimir Putin, Graham likened Trump to top-tier athletes in terms of political dominance. “Donald Trump is the Scotty Scheffler of American politics and foreign diplomacy, and he’s about to put a whooping on your ass,” he said.
Graham suggested that Putin had underestimated Trump in the past and would face serious consequences for doing so again. “You played President Trump at your own peril. You made a major league mistake, and your economy is going to be crushed.”
The Senator warned that the geopolitical landscape is shifting and that the Russian President needs to consider returning to the negotiating table before the situation worsens.
“He’s about to get crushed,” Graham stated, underscoring the growing flow of Western arms into Ukraine and the increasing global pressure on Moscow.
Implications for India, China, Brazil
The comments from Senator Graham signal a potential escalation in economic policy toward nations that have maintained commercial energy ties with Russia amid the ongoing war in Ukraine.
India and China, in particular, have significantly increased their purchase of Russian oil at discounted rates since the West imposed sanctions on Moscow.
While both countries have defended their energy policies as aligned with national interests and market stability, the proposed Trump tariffs could severely impact their trade dynamics with the U.S., especially given the size and scale of current economic interdependencies.
Brazil, though a smaller importer of Russian oil compared to India and China, has also faced Western scrutiny for not aligning with sanctions on Russia.
If enacted, the 100% tariffs would mark a dramatic shift in U.S. economic diplomacy and could lead to retaliatory trade moves or wider disruptions in global energy markets. However, supporters of such measures argue they are necessary to force countries to reconsider their positions and take a firmer stand against the Russian invasion.
As the 2024 U.S. presidential election nears and foreign policy takes center stage, Graham’s remarks reflect a broader Republican vision of reasserting American dominance on the global stage — through forceful economic actions and strategic deterrence.
The world, particularly key players like India, China, and Brazil, may soon face a pivotal decision in the evolving global order: continue energy deals with Russia or risk major fallout from the next U.S. administration.
