The Kremlin has criticised US President, Donald Trump’s threat to raise tariffs on India for its purchases of Russian oil.
Speaking to reporters, Kremlin Spokesman, Dmitry Peskov decried the move as “illegal” and said that it was unacceptable to force countries to stop trading with Moscow.
“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.
“We believe that sovereign countries must have and do have the right to choose their trade partners, the partners in trade and economic cooperation, on their own and independently determine those modes of trade and economic cooperation that suit the interests of a country in question.”
Dmitry Peskov
Earlier, US President, Donald Trump wrote on his Truth Social network that from Friday, he would significantly increase tariffs on India for importing and reselling Russian oil.
Previously, the US leader announced 25% tariffs on Indian goods. He added that the Indian side has “always bought a vast majority of their military equipment from Russia,” and is “Russia’s largest buyer of energy, along with China.”
Trump said in a post to his Truth Social network, “They don’t care how many people in Ukraine are being killed by the Russian War Machine.” He also accused India of selling Russian oil “on the Open Market for big profits.”
In a previous social media tirade last week, he said of Russia and India, “They can take their dead economies down together.”
President Vladimir Putin has signalled no change in Russia’s stance on the war, despite the looming deadline.
On Monday, the Indian Foreign Ministry issued a statement calling the attacks from the US over the country’s imports of Russian oil unjustified. It vowed, “Like any major economy, India will take all necessary measures to safeguard its national interests and economic security.”
New Delhi also reminded Washington that when it began importing from Russia after the outbreak of the Ukraine conflict, the US “actively encouraged such imports.”
It also countered the stance of the European Union for singling out Indian refiners over their exports of crude.
The foreign ministry said that while India’s imports are “a necessity compelled by the global market situation,” the nations criticising it are themselves “indulging in trade with Russia” even when “such trade is not even a vital compulsion.”
It said that the EU conducted €67.5bn euros ($78.02bn) in trade with Russia in 2024, including record imports of liquefied natural gas (LNG) reaching 16.5 million metric tons.
The statement said that United States continues to import Russian uranium hexafluoride for use in its nuclear power industry, palladium, fertilisers and chemicals. It did not give a source for the export information.
Separately, Russia also said that it no longer had any restrictions on where it places its intermediate-range missiles after Trump’s suggestion the US would move its nuclear submarines in response to former Russian President, Dmitry Medvedev’s confrontational rhetoric towards the US.
Ukraine Finds Indian Components Used In Russian Attack Drones
Meanwhile, Andriy Yermak, senior aide to Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, sought to ramp up the pressure on India as he revealed in a statement posted on Telegram that Ukrainian armed forces have seen Indian components being used in Russian drones involved in strikes against civilian population across Ukraine.
“Unfortunately, we have found Indian components in Russian attack drones. These are the same drones being used on the front lines and against civilians—specifically, Shahed and Geran types.”
Andriy Yermak
Yermak stressed the urgent need to cut off Russia’s access to foreign components, calling for stronger international measures to prevent the continued killing of Ukrainians.
He also reiterated that purchasing Russian energy resources directly finances the war and undermines global efforts toward peace.
READ ALSO: Australia Fears a Vanishing Palestine as Gaza, West Bank Suffer
