Russia has responded to US President Donald Trump’s threats towards India, emphasizing the country’s right to choose its trading partners.
Russia Rejects US Threats
Following Trump’s threats of high tariffs on Indian exports, the Kremlin expressed dissatisfaction while supporting India’s right to make its own trade decisions. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated, 'We do not consider such statements to be legitimate.' He added that attempts to pressure countries to stop trading with Russia were unacceptable.
India Strengthens Ties with Russia
Indian officials confirmed that key figures like National Security Adviser Ajit Doval would visit Russia for discussions with counterparts. The Indian Foreign Ministry released a statement dismissing US and EU criticism, highlighting that these countries also continue to trade with Russia.
Increase in Oil Imports from Russia to India
Since the onset of the military actions in Ukraine in 2022, the volume of oil imports from Russia to India has significantly increased. While pre-war India imported less than 100,000 barrels per day, by 2023 this number grew to 1.8 million barrels, constituting 39% of all imports.
Thus, in light of rising pressure from the US, India continues to develop its trade ties with Russia, greatly impacting the global energy market.
