'Colonial era is over, no nation should try to dominate global politics': Putin backs India amid US tariffs

"From an international law point of view, everyone must have equal rights, and must be in a similar position," Putin declared, addressing the press at Beijing's Diaoyutai State Guesthouse.

He said that large countries like India and China have unique political systems and domestic laws, warning that attempts to "punish" them place their leaders in a difficult bind.

"If one of them shows weakness, his political career will be over," Putin said.

Speaking of history, he reminded the West of its colonial past.

"Countries have had difficult periods in their history, such as colonialism, attacks on sovereignty for prolonged periods of time. Now that the colonial era is over, they have to realise that they cannot use this tone in speaking with their partners," he said.

Putin's remarks come against the backdrop of intensifying trade and geopolitical tensions.

The Trump administration has imposed 25 percent reciprocal tariffs on India and an additional 25 percent on Russian oil purchases, bringing the total duties imposed on India to 50 percent, among the highest in the world.

In 2022, India became a major importer of Russian crude at the start of the Russia-Ukraine war.

Now, after repeated flak from Washington, India finds itself closer to Moscow and Beijing, in a defiant show of ties.

Even at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in China, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that Russia and India share a "special" relationship. In a similar vein, he also met Chinese President Xi Jinping, and the two countries pledged to be partners, not rivals.