NRI PULSE STAFF REPORT
India strongly rejected criticism from the United States and the European Union over its continued oil imports from Russia, terming the remarks “unjustified and unreasonable” and pointing to Western nations’ own trade links with Moscow.
In a statement issued on Monday, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said India’s energy purchases from Russia were driven by “necessity compelled by global market situations” after the Ukraine conflict disrupted traditional supply chains. The spokesperson noted that soon after the war began, several energy suppliers diverted shipments to Europe, and at that time, Washington had even “actively encouraged” India’s imports from Russia to help stabilize global energy markets.
“India’s imports are meant to ensure predictable and affordable energy costs to the Indian consumer,” the statement read, emphasizing that securing energy at reasonable prices remains a critical national interest.
The MEA also accused Western nations of hypocrisy, pointing to the scale of their own trade with Russia. The European Union, it said, recorded €67.5 billion in goods trade with Moscow in 2024, along with €17.2 billion in services trade in 2023 — far exceeding India’s total trade volumes with Russia. Europe’s liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports from Russia reached a record 16.5 million tonnes in 2024, surpassing the previous high of 15.21 million tonnes in 2022.
The spokesperson highlighted that Europe’s trade with Russia extends beyond energy to include fertilizers, mining products, chemicals, iron and steel, as well as machinery and transport equipment. Similarly, the United States continues to import Russian uranium hexafluoride for its nuclear industry, palladium for its electric vehicle sector, fertilizers, and chemicals.
“In this background, the targeting of India is unjustified,” the MEA said, stressing that India, like any major economy, would take “all necessary measures to safeguard its national interests and economic security.”
Statement by Official Spokesperson⬇️
— Randhir Jaiswal (@MEAIndia) August 4, 2025
🔗 https://t.co/O2hJTOZBby pic.twitter.com/RTQ2beJC0W
Cover photo courtesy Randhir Jaiswal. Background designed on Canva.
