Moscow has opposed the threat of raising tariffs on India due to the purchase of oil from Russia by US President Donald Trump. Regarding the recent threat of the US, Kremlin spokesman Dimitri Peskov said that such threats against Moscow are illegal. He bluntly said that countries cannot be forced to choose business partners.
‘Do not make pressure on the trade partner of Russia, we will understand it threat’
A Kremlin spokesperson said, “Countries have the right to choose their trade partner and cannot be threatened. It is illegal to force any country to close business with Russia. Such pressure against Russia’s trading partners will be understood as a threat.”
Dimitri Peskov said, “We believe that sovereign countries should have the right to choose partners for their business partners, trade and economic cooperation and in fact it is so.
Trump threatened to increase tariffs
US President Trump warned on Monday (4 August 2025) that if India does not stop purchasing Russian oil and other military products, the tariff would be increased on it. Trump said, “India is not only buying a huge amount of Russian oil, but also selling a large part of the bought oil at huge profits in the open market. They do not care about how many people are being killed in Ukraine with the Russian war machine. That is why I am going to increase the fees paid to America from India.”
‘It is wrong to target India’
India responded to Trump’s warning. The Ministry of External Affairs said, “To target India is an example of absolutely inappropriate and double standards. India is a big economy and will take all necessary steps to protect its national interests and economic security.”
https://www.abplive.com/news/world/russia-warn-donald-trump-interpreted-as-threats-us-can-not-force-countries-to-choose-trade-partners-support-india-2991034
