Russia on Tuesday said sovereign nations have the right to choose their trading partners, while accusing the United States of exerting illegal trade pressure on India.

Kremlin came down heavily on the Trump administration for threatening to raise tariffs on India over its purchase of Russian oil.

“Sovereign nations have RIGHT TO CHOOSE their own trading partners," Kremlin said on India’s purchase of Russian oil.

New Delhi, meanwhile, has called US President Donald Trump’s threats “unjustified" and vowed to protect its economic interests, deepening a trade rift between the two major economies.

Trump has said from August 8, he will impose new sanctions on Russia as well as on countries that buy its energy exports, unless Moscow takes steps to end its three-and-a-half year conflict with Ukraine.

“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," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov was quoted by Reuters.

Source:News18