Russia has accused the United States of engaging in unlawful trade pressure on India following President Donald Trump’s renewed threat to increase tariffs on Indian purchases of Russian oil. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated that such statements amount to threats and coercion against countries, undermining their right to choose their trade partners based on their best interests.
President Trump has announced plans to impose new sanctions on Russia and nations buying Russian energy exports if Moscow does not act to end the conflict in Ukraine. Despite the impending deadline, Russian President Vladimir Putin has shown no inclination to change Russia’s position on the Ukraine conflict.
India has denounced Trump’s threats as unjustified and pledged to safeguard its economic interests, intensifying the trade dispute between the two major economies. Indian officials have confirmed that India will continue buying oil from Russia despite Trump’s warnings.
Both the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party and the main opposition Congress in India have condemned Trump’s repeated criticisms of the country. Congress leader Manish Tewari criticized Trump’s remarks as demeaning to the Indian populace and called for an end to the ongoing bullying and coercion.
India’s foreign ministry released a statement highlighting that countries criticizing India for its trade with Russia are themselves engaged in trade with Russia. The ministry pointed out that the EU conducts significant trade with Russia, including importing liquefied natural gas, uranium hexafluoride, palladium, fertilizers, and chemicals from Russia.
Trump has emphasized that lower energy prices will compel Putin to cease hostilities in Ukraine. He criticized India for indirectly supporting the war by purchasing Russian oil, urging a halt to such transactions. The strained relationship between Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been exacerbated by the Russian oil issue and Trump’s tariff threats.
The conflict over Russian oil has also attracted the attention of the European Union, which recently sanctioned Nayara Energy, a refinery in India with majority Russian ownership. India has expressed opposition to unilateral sanctions by the EU, emphasizing its stance on the matter.