The Kremlin strongly criticized US President Donald Trump for threatening to impose high tariffs on India on Tuesday. Trump had warned New Delhi about buying oil from Russia, which remains a major source of income for Moscow’s military operations in Ukraine.

Trump Sets Deadline for Peace or Penalties

Earlier, Trump gave Russia a strict deadline. He asked Moscow to show progress toward a peace agreement with Kyiv by Friday. If not, he warned of more economic punishments. These would also apply to countries that continue to buy Russian oil and gas.

One of those countries is India. On Monday, Trump warned that he would hit India with heavy tariffs. In response, the Indian government called such a move “unjustified and unreasonable.”

Russia Defends India’s Right to Trade

Soon after, Russia stepped in to support India’s position. On Tuesday, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said, “Sovereign countries have the right to choose their own trading partners.”

Without directly naming Trump, Peskov criticized any attempt to pressure other nations into cutting ties with Russia. He described such actions as “illegitimate” and against international norms.

Western Sanctions Haven’t Stopped Russia’s Oil Trade

Since the start of the war in February 2022, Western countries have tried to weaken Russia’s economy by targeting its oil and gas exports. However, Moscow found new buyers, including India and China. These countries have helped Russia keep its energy trade alive and its revenues flowing.

Despite sanctions from the West, Russia’s oil earnings have continued to support its military spending in Ukraine.

Trump Hasn’t Sanctioned Russia Since January

Although Trump returned to the White House in January, he hasn’t imposed any new sanctions on Moscow so far. Instead, he has pushed both Russia and Ukraine to hold direct peace talks.

Thanks to Trump’s pressure, the two sides met for the first time in more than three years. So far, they have held three rounds of peace talks in Istanbul. However, these discussions have not led to any major breakthrough.