New Delhi, Aug. 6 -- Russia on Tuesday accused the United States of exerting illegal trade pressure on India after former U.S. President Donald Trump reiterated threats to raise tariffs on India for continuing oil trade with Russia.

Kremlin spokesperson stated that Moscow considers such threats unlawful and reiterated Russia's position that sovereign nations have the right to choose their own economic and trade partners.

"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," Peskov told reporters.

He further added, "We believe that sovereign countries should and do have the right to choose their own partners for trade and econom...