Moscow has given its official response to US President Donald Trump’s ultimatum against India, calling the threats “illegal” and a form of “pressure.” On Tuesday, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated that “we hear many statements that are in fact threats” and that any attempt to “force countries to stop trading with Russia is illegal.”
The controversy was sparked by a social media post from Trump, who accused India of buying large quantities of Russian oil and reselling it for a profit. He linked this trade to the war in Ukraine and threatened to “substantially” raise tariffs on Indian goods, a move that would compound the existing 25% tariffs that were imposed on August 1.
India’s government also issued a defiant response, with the Ministry of External Affairs calling the targeting of New Delhi “unjustified and unreasonable.” The statement declared that India would take “all necessary measures to safeguard its national interests and economic security.”
The diplomatic exchange underscores the growing geopolitical tensions between the US and the Russia-India partnership. Russia’s public support for India reinforces their close ties and a shared commitment to resisting what they view as Washington’s attempts to use its economic leverage to dictate the foreign policy of other sovereign nations.