India, Aug. 20 -- Russia on Wednesday dismissed the US tariffs on India over its procurement of Russian crude oil as "unjustified and unilateral", stressing that Moscow and New Delhi would continue energy cooperation "notwithstanding external pressure".

Briefing reporters in New Delhi, deputy chief of mission Roman Babushkin said the US has "weaponised the economy" but added, "friends do not impose sanctions, and Russia will never impose sanctions on India".

He underlined that Russia has created a "special mechanism" to ensure uninterrupted crude supplies to India, which currently sources around 40 per cent of its oil needs from Moscow at an average discount of 5 per cent.

The Russian official said India and Russia are on track to achi...