US tariffs on Russia's trade partners could backfire, warns Putin

Russia's President Vladimir Putin on Thursday hit out at the US over its efforts to pressure India and China into cutting energy ties with Moscow, warning that such moves could backfire economically. Putin said if higher tariffs are imposed on Russia's trade partners, it would drive up global prices and force the US Federal Reserve to keep interest rates high. US has imposed an additional 25% tariff on India, raising the total tax on Indian exports to 50% in August.The Russian leader, who was addressing a forum of Russia experts, said "India and China will not allow to humiliate themselves".Speaking on US calls for India to renounce Russian energy, Putin said, “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.” Putin further said that he knows that Prime Minister Narendra Modi would never take any such steps. Relations with INDIA are special’ ever since ‘SOVIET times’, he said.

‘Relations with INDIA are special’ ever since ‘SOVIET times’ — Putin

‘The Indian people remember’ that Moscow supported the country in its bid for independence from British colonial rule https://t.co/MP2BhNiVLl pic.twitter.com/JV1YQbKUIe

— RT (@RT_com) October 2, 2025

Commenting on Europe, Puntin said, 'The Europe that we cherished and loved dearly is GONE." — Putin says THIS is what well-known Europeans have admitted to him and it boils down to 'EROSION of underpinning values' 'If that keeps happening Europe will shrink and shrivel, LOSE its powe,r' he said.