(MENAFN) The Kremlin on Tuesday dismissed U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent threat to impose higher tariffs on India for its continued purchase of Russian oil, calling the warning illegitimate.

“We hear many statements that are actually threats. Attempts to force countries to stop trading with Russia. We do not consider such statements to be legitimate,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters during a press briefing, referring to comments made by the Indian Foreign Ministry in reaction to Trump’s remarks.

Peskov emphasized that sovereign nations have the right to determine their own trade and economic alliances based on national interests.

The controversy stems from a statement Trump posted Sunday on Truth Social, where he accused India of profiting from reselling Russian oil and warned of looming economic consequences.

“They don’t care how many people in Ukraine are being killed by the Russian War Machine. Because of this, I will be substantially raising the Tariff paid by India to the USA,” Trump wrote, offering no specific details on the scale or timing of the proposed tariff increases.

In response, Indian Foreign Ministry spokesman Randhir Jaiswal said Monday that U.S. officials had initially encouraged India’s purchases of Russian oil early in the Ukraine conflict to help stabilize the global energy market.

“India has been targeted by the United States and the European Union for importing oil from Russia after the commencement of the Ukraine conflict,” read the ministry’s statement, which described the criticism as “unjustified and unreasonable.”

“Like any major economy, India will take all necessary measures to safeguard its national interests and economic security,” the statement added.

MENAFN05082025000045017169ID1109887295