New Delhi: After Donald Trump threatened to raise tariffs on India and other countries that are purchasing Russian oil, Moscow accused the United States of exerting illegal trade pressure its partners.
“We hear many statements that are in fact threats, attempts to force countries to cut trade relations with Russia. We do not consider such statements to be legal,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told mediapersons.
He made the point that sovereign nations have a right to choose their own trading partners.
“We believe that sovereign countries should have and do have the right to choose their own trading partners, partners for trade and economic cooperation, and to choose for themselves the forms of trade and economic cooperation that are in the interests of a particular country,” Peskov stated.
After Trump announced he will be imposing new sanctions on Russia and on countries that buy its energy exports, unless Moscow takes measures to end the war against Ukraine, there was no indication of any change in stance from President Vladimir Putin.
On Monday, India said Trump’s tariff threats are “unjustified” and “unreasonable”.
“Like any major economy, India will take all necessary measures to safeguard its national interests and economic security,” said Randhir Jaiswal, spokesperson for India’s Foreign ministry.
India also criticised the US, its largest trading partner, for imposing tariffs when America itself is still doing trade with Russia.
In a post on his social media platform Truth Social, President Trump warned he would raise tariffs, saying India “don’t care how many people in Ukraine are being killed by the Russian War Machine.”
Trump, having already levied a hefty 25% tariff on India, did not specify what the new rate would be.
