UPDATE - Russia does not consider Trump’s tariff threats against India to be ‘legitimate’

UPDATES HEADLINE, ADDS KREMLIN SPOKESMAN'S COMMENTS ON OTHER TOPICS; MINOR EDITS

By Anadolu staff

ISTANBUL (AA) - Moscow does not consider US President Donald Trump’s threat to India on imposing higher tariffs over its purchase of Russian oil as “legitimate,” the Kremlin said on Tuesday.

“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,” spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters in a press briefing, commenting on a statement by the Indian External Affaırs Ministry released in response to Trump’s remarks over the weekend.

Peskov said sovereign countries have the right to choose their partners for trade and economic cooperation based on their interests.

On Sunday, Trump wrote on Truth Social that he would impose higher tariffs on India, accusing New Delhi of profiting from the resale of Russian oil.

Without providing further details on the scope or timeline of the tariff hike, the US president said: "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."

In response, India's External Affair Ministry spokesman Randhir Jaiswal wrote on Monday that the US encouraged such imports by India at the start of the ongoing Moscow-Kyiv war, with the aim of “strengthening global energy markets stability.”

“India has been targeted by the United States and the European Union for importing oil from Russia after the commencement of the Ukraine conflict,” said the corresponding statement released by the ministry, defining New Delhi’s targeting 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.

Meanwhile, Peskov confirmed that Russia has lifted its self-imposed restrictions on intermediate- and shorter-range missiles deployments following the US' placement of similar systems in Europe and the Asia-Pacific region, as said by the Foreign Ministry on Monday.

"Russia now has no more restrictions in this regard. Russia does not consider itself limited in any way anymore. Russia believes it has the right to take appropriate measures and make corresponding steps if necessary," he said.

Asked if any decisions regarding the deployment of were made, Peskov said such actions are unlikely to be accompanied by “announcements.”

"It is hardly worth expecting 'announcements' here. After all, we are talking about defense issues, which is a very sensitive and non-public area," he emphasized.

Turning to a court sentence against Evgenia Gutul, head of Moldova's Gagauz Autonomous Region, Peskov criticized it as "an example of attempts to pressure opponents and politically motivated decision-making."

"Yes, indeed, this is a prime example of a politically motivated ruling, an attempt at overt and illegal pressure on political opponents during the election campaign," said Peskov.

Earlier on Tuesday, a court in Moldova's capital Chisinau sentenced Gutul to seven years in prison on charges related to violations in financing the opposition party Shor.

Commenting on the ruling, Peskov said opposition forces in Moldova are being systematically suppressed, effectively depriving people of their ability to vote for candidates of their choice.

"The rules and norms of democracy are currently being trampled upon in this country," he added.