India Rejects Western Criticism Over Russian Oil Imports

New Delhi, Aug 4: India has strongly countered criticism from the United States and the European Union over its continued import of oil from Russia, calling such targeting "unjustified and unreasonable" in light of global trade patterns and Western conduct.

In a statement released on Monday evening , the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) highlighted what it termed as "double standards" of Western nations, pointing to their own significant trade volumes with Russia even after the Ukraine conflict began.

“India has been targeted by the United States and the European Union for importing oil from Russia after the commencement of the Ukraine conflict,” the MEA’s Official Spokesperson  Randhir Jaiswal said. “In fact, India began importing from Russia because traditional supplies were diverted to Europe after the outbreak of the conflict.”

He further noted that at the time, Washington had even supported India’s purchases. “The United States at that time actively encouraged such imports by India for strengthening global energy markets stability.”

India, the spokesperson clarified, has acted out of necessity, not choice. “India’s imports are meant to ensure predictable and affordable energy costs to the Indian consumer. They are a necessity compelled by global market situation.”

However, he pointed out that the countries now raising concerns are themselves engaged in substantial commerce with Russia, which, in their case, is not a "vital national compulsion." “It is revealing that the very nations criticizing India are themselves indulging in trade with Russia. Unlike our case, such trade is not even a vital national compulsion.”

Citing official figures, the spokesperson said, “The European Union in 2024 had a bilateral trade of Euro 67.5 billion in goods with Russia. In addition, it had trade in services estimated at Euro 17.2 billion in 2023. This is significantly more than India’s total trade with Russia that year or subsequently.”

He also underscored Europe’s record energy imports from Russia. “European imports of LNG in 2024, in fact, reached a record 16.5mn tonnes, surpassing the last record of 15.21mn tonnes in 2022.”

The scope of EU-Russia trade, the spokesperson added, spans beyond energy. “Europe-Russia trade includes not just energy, but also fertilizers, mining products, chemicals, iron and steel and machinery and transport equipment.”

The statement also highlighted continued U.S. imports from Russia. “Where the United States is concerned, it continues to import from Russia uranium hexafluoride for its nuclear industry, palladium for its EV industry, fertilizers as well as chemicals.”

“In this background,” the spokesperson concluded, “the targeting of India is unjustified and unreasonable. Like any major economy, India will take all necessary measures to safeguard its national interests and economic security.”