Russia slams Trump’s threat against India: ‘Can’t force countries to choose trade partners’

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Tuesday that “trying to force countries to stop trading with Russia is illegal.”

A day after US President Donald Trump warned India of revised tariffs due to its purchase of Russian oil, Russia on Tuesday has stated that such threats against Moscow are illegal.

Speaking about the US’ recent threat, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters “trying to force countries to stop trading with Russia is illegal.”

Peskov further told reporters that countries have a right to choose their own trade partners, and such threats cannot be made.The Kremlin spokesman added that such pressures against Russia’s trading partners will be interpreted as “threats”.

What did the Kremlin say?

“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,” Peskov told reporters.“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,” he added further.

Kremlin’s statement comes after Trump issued another warning for India on Monday night, warning New Delhi of revised tariffs if it did not stop its purchase of Russian oil and other military products.

Trump’s warning on Monday comes amid the US president’s efforts to establish a ceasefire in Ukraine.