The Kremlin on Tuesday rejected a proposed US move to impose tariffs of up to 100 per cent on countries buying Russian oil, calling the measure “illegal” and “unacceptable”. The remarks came as president Vladimir Putin prepares to travel to New Delhi for the BRICS summit and meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday.Speaking during a virtual briefing from Moscow, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov additionally said Russia was awaiting negotiations with India on setting up new nuclear power plants.The proposed US tariffs assume significance for India, one of the largest buyers of Russian crude. The US Senate in August passed the Russia Sanctions Bill, named after the late Senator Lindsey Graham, which could impose tariffs of up to 100 per cent on countries, including India and China, purchasing Russian oil and gas.The bill was passed 86-11 and must still clear the US House of Representatives before becoming law.This comes after a Russia recently said that both the countries have built a functioning payments infrastructure using roubles and rupees, which now account for 96 per cent of bilateral trade. According to Reuters, bilateral trade hit a record $70 billion in 2024, tripling from 2022 as India increased imports of discounted Russian oil amid Western sanctions, before falling in 2025 after sanctions tightened.Peskov said the Putin-Modi meeting would also provide an opportunity for the Russian president to brief Modi on developments in Ukraine and for both leaders to exchange views on international issues, including the war in West Asia.“We know the position of India on Ukrainian conflict, and to a great extent, it corresponds with our own position. Because we do want the solution of the Ukrainian conflict by peaceful means,” Peskov said.Russia also said it would welcome India’s efforts to help resolve the Ukraine conflict through peaceful means.The 18th BRICS summit is scheduled for September 12-13 in New Delhi. Chinese president Xi Jinping and Iranian president Masoud Pezeshkian are among the leaders expected to attend.
