The Kremlin has condemned fresh US attempts to tighten the economic noose around Russia, warning that Washington has no right to punish its allies for maintaining trade ties with Moscow.
Speaking to India Today in a virtual interaction ahead of the BRICS summit in New Delhi, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia considered such attempts "illegal, unfair, and unacceptable". His remarks came after the US Senate passed a sweeping Russia-Iran sanctions bill that could expose major buyers of Russian oil and gas to punitive tariffs.
Asked whether sanctions and the threat of penalties against countries trading with Russia were part of discussions surrounding the Ukraine peace process, Peskov said Moscow regarded such measures as an unacceptable interference in trade with its allies.
"First of all, we, of course, we do not accept and we consider it to be illegal. Definitely illegal in terms of international law, any attempts to introduce limitations on international trade and to threaten other countries, third parties, for doing trade with others," he told India Today.
"We consider it illegal, unfair, and unacceptable," he added. Peskov acknowledged that sanctions are part of the wider diplomatic discussion, but said they were secondary to efforts to resolve the Ukraine conflict.
"So, issue of sanctions is on the agenda. It is on the agenda. It is not in the front row because the settlement itself is issue number one, but it's an untakable part of the whole agenda of peaceful settlement around Ukraine." he said.
His comments came after the US Senate passed the Lindsey Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026 by an 86-11 vote on August 7. The legislation imposes primary and secondary sanctions targeting Russian officials, oligarchs, financial institutions and the so-called shadow fleet, while also extending sanctions on Iran.
One of its most consequential provisions gives US President Donald Trump the power to impose tariffs of up to 100 per cent on imports from the largest purchasers of Russian crude oil and natural gas, as well as countries helping Moscow evade sanctions. That provision has particular significance for India, one of the biggest buyers of Russian crude.
BRICS AGAINST NO ONE: PESKOV REJECTS TRUMP'S CLAIM
Trump has repeatedly portrayed BRICS as a challenge to US financial dominance and threatened steep tariffs against countries pursuing policies aimed at reducing reliance on the dollar. In earlier remarks, Trump described BRICS as an "attack on the dollar" and warned countries against pursuing de-dollarisation.
Asked by India Today about Trump's claim, Peskov rejected the characterisation, insisting that Russia's shift towards national-currency payments was driven by economic necessity rather than an attempt to wage war on the dollar.
"It's a very interesting question. Again, I will repeat, BRICS is against no one. BRICS is for participating countries, for their national interests."
He said Russia had little choice after being cut off from access to the dollar and euro under Western sanctions.
"And Russia is one of the BRICS countries. And Russia was deprived of a right to use the American dollar and to use euro. So, it's a reserve currency, reserve currency for the whole world. And the United States have taken a decision to deprive us of the right to use this reserve currency."
"What should we do? We should tell ourselves, why don't we use our own money? Is it worth an American dollar? No. To some extent, it is even better."
Peskov said Russia was therefore promoting national currencies where they served its interests, rather than formally pursuing a policy of de-dollarisation.
"It's not because we are against the dollar. And we do not want to claim any de-dollarization policy. We're simply doing what better corresponds with our national interests."
AMERICA IS RUINING TRUST IN DOLLAR: PESKOV
Peskov then turned Trump's argument back on Washington, saying US sanctions were themselves encouraging countries to seek alternatives to the dollar and weakening confidence in its status as the world's reserve currency.
"So, and I would say that America is against dollar as a reserve currency, because if you want to ensure that your money is continue to be a reserve currency, you would never do a step like the one I mentioned."
"So America is ruining trust in the US dollar, and the more trust is ruined, the more trust is going in favor of national currencies. So this is the process and this is the nature of the process," Peskov said.
Russia has moved particularly far to make cross-border payments easier in its own currency. Peskov said that around 90 per cent of Russia's payments with BRICS partners are now conducted in national currencies. He stressed that the shift should not automatically be interpreted as an anti-American project.
PUTIN-MODI MEETING IN DELHI
The dispute over sanctions, energy trade and currencies is unfolding just days before Russian President Vladimir Putin's expected visit to India for the 18th BRICS summit. Peskov also said Putin is scheduled to hold a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday, September 11, on the sidelines of the summit.
Ministry of External Affairs has confirmed that the leaders' summit is scheduled for September 12-13 in New Delhi. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said he looks forward to welcoming Putin for the summit.
BRICS has expanded beyond its original members to include Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, along with Ethiopia, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran and the UAE.
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Published By:
Satyam Singh
Published On:
Sep 8, 2026 18:23 IST