India, Aug. 15 -- US President Donald Trump said on Thursday that his punitive tariffs on India were designed to pressure Russian president Vladimir Putin into Ukraine negotiations by cutting off Moscow's oil revenue - and suggested the approach was working - ahead of a crucial meeting on Friday between the American and Russian leaders.

His comments came as US treasury secretary Scott Bessent warned penalties could increase further if talks with Putin fail.

When asked during a Fox News podcast interview whether his threat of additional sanctions prompted Russia to seek talks that are scheduled for Friday in Alaska, Trump cited the punitive tariffs on India as being one of the factors for bringing Moscow to the negotiations.

"I think ev...