'Will not allow humiliation': Putin slams US for pressuring India into cutting energy ties with Russia

New Delhi: Russian President Vladimir Putin slammed the US for exerting pressure on India and China to pause Russian oil purchases and warned that such moves could backfire economically.

The Russian President said that imposing higher tariffs on Moscow's trade partners would adversely impact the US and may also lead to a surge in global prices. He further said that steep duties could force the US Federal Reserve to keep interest rates high.

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The US has imposed 50 per cent tariff on Indian goods -- 25 per cent reciprocal levy and additional 25 per cent for purchasing oil from Moscow.

'India, China won't allow to humiliate themselves'

Addressing a forum of Russia experts, Putin slammed the US for pressuring India and China into severing energy ties with Moscow and said that the countries "will not allow to humiliate themselves".

“If India refuses our energy supplies, it will suffer a certain loss ... of course, the people of a country like India, believe me, will closely monitor the decisions made by the political leadership and will never allow any humiliation in front of anyone," he added. Putin said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi, himself, would never take any such decision.

India-US strained ties

The Russian President remarks comes amid a tussle between India and the US over tariff. US President Donald Trump and his officials have repeatedly cornered India for its energy ties with Moscow. The Trump administration has even alleged that India is fueling Russia's war in Ukraine by continuing to purchase oil from Moscow.

However, in recent days, the US and India appeared to have been moving towards mending their ties as they resumed trade talks. Trump and PM Modi's cordial social media exchanges recently also indicated a thaw in strained ties between the two countries.