Putin: US tariffs on Russia's trade partners could backfire economically

SOCHI, Russia (Reuters) -Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday criticized U.S. efforts to pressure India and China into cutting energy ties with Moscow, warning that such moves could backfire economically.

Putin said that if higher tariffs are imposed on Russia's trade partners, it would drive up global prices and force the U.S. Federal Reserve to keep interest rates high.

That, in turn, would slow down the U.S. economy, Putin told a forum of Russia experts.

(Reporting by Vladimir Soldatkin Wrikting by Maxim RodionovEditing by Mark Trevelyan)