US President Donald Trump told world leaders at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) Tuesday that India and China were “the main funders of the war” in Ukraine because they continue to purchase Russian oil. Trump also criticised NATO countries for not doing enough to cut energy imports from Moscow. India, China funding Russia's war “China and India are the primary funders of the ongoing war by continuing to purchase Russian oil,” Trump said. “But inexcusably, even NATO countries have not cut off much Russian energy and Russian energy products, which, as you know, I found out about two weeks ago, and I wasn’t happy. They’re funding the war against themselves. Who the hell ever heard of that one?” Ready to impose tariffs on Russia He said that if Russia was not ready to strike a peace deal, Washington was “fully prepared to impose a very strong round of powerful tariffs, which would stop the bloodshed, I believe, very quickly.” Trump urged European nations to join the US in such measures for them to be effective. Largest tax cuts in US history “One year ago, our country was in deep trouble. But today, we are the hottest country,” Trump said, before listing what he called achievements of his administration. “America is blessed with the strongest economy, border, military, friendships, and spirit.” Trump said his government had introduced the “largest tax cuts in American history,” while the stock market was performing strongly and wages were rising. On border security, he told the chamber: “For the last four months, the number of illegal aliens entering our country has been zero. Our message is very simple: if you come illegally to the US, you are going to jail.” 'Ended seven wars' Turning to global conflicts, Trump said he had ended seven wars since returning to office. He listed conflicts between Israel and Iran, Pakistan and India, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo, Thailand and Cambodia, Armenia and Azerbaijan, Egypt and Ethiopia, and Serbia and Kosovo. “No other president has ever done anything close to that,” he said. View this post on Instagram A post shared by The Indian Express (@indianexpress) 'UN not living up to potential' On the United Nations itself, Trump said the body was not “living up to its potential.” He complained that its response to wars was limited to “empty words” and recalled that, years earlier, he had bid unsuccessfully to remodel the UN headquarters in New York. (With inputs from agencies)
