India, Sept. 19 -- Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov hit out at the United States's tariff rhetoric, saying "ancient civilisations" like India and China will not bow to ultimatums.

Speaking at 'The Great Game' programme of Russia's main Channel 1 TV, Sergei Lavrov said US "demands" to halt Russian energy purchases are only forcing nations to "look for new energy markets, new resources, and pay more".

The Russian foreign minister's comments come in the drop of severe criticism by the Donald Trump administration of India for buying oil from Moscow amid the Ukraine-Russia war.

"Both China and India are ancient civilisations, and to use this language with them, 'either stop doing what I don't like, or I will impose tariffs on you well...