The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Monday defended India’s continued import of oil from Russia amid criticism from the United States and the European Union (EU), terming such objections “unjustified and unreasonable.”
Responding to questions over energy trade with Russia since the commencement of the Ukraine conflict, the MEA clarified that 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.
“India began importing oil from Russia because traditional supplies were diverted to Europe after the outbreak of the conflict. The United States at that time actively encouraged such imports by India for strengthening global energy markets stability,” the MEA said in a statement.
The ministry pointed out that the nations criticizing India are themselves indulging in trade with Russia. “Unlike our case, such trade is not even a vital national compulsion,” the statement added.
Citing trade data, the MEA highlighted that 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. European imports of LNG in 2024, in fact, reached a record 16.5mn tonnes, surpassing the last record of 15.21mn tonnes in 2022. Europe-Russia trade includes not just energy, but also fertilizers, mining products, chemicals, iron and steel and machinery and transport equipment.
The MEA pointed out that US 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 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,” the statement emphasized.
