New Delhi, 17 July 2025 — India has rejected suggestions that it could face penalties for continuing to buy Russian energy, cautioning NATO allies not to apply “double standards” to its commerce.
At a weekly press briefing, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said meeting the country’s energy demand “is an overriding priority” and that New Delhi’s buying decisions are shaped by “what is available on the market and by prevailing global conditions.” He added pointedly: “We would strongly advise against any double standards on this matter.”
What Triggered the Response?
The remarks were a direct answer to NATO Secretary‑General Mark Rutte, who told U.S. legislators on Wednesday that Brazil, China, and India risked being hit with secondary sanctions if they did not scale back business with Moscow. Rutte urged leaders in those capitals to press President Vladimir Putin “to get serious about peace talks,” arguing that otherwise punitive measures would “slam back on Brazil, on India and on China in a massive way.”
His warning echoed a recent threat by U.S. President Donald Trump to impose 100 percent tariffs on buyers of Russian exports unless a peace deal is reached “within 50 days.”
India Points to Western Purchases
Indian officials were quick to note that European nations—including several NATO members—remain major customers of Russian oil and gas. Data from the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) show the EU has been the top buyer of Russian pipeline gas and LNG since 2022, while Turkey, another NATO member, has purchased the largest volume of Russian oil products over the same period. Brussels aims to phase out Russian crude by 2027 and natural‑gas imports by early 2028, but they have not stopped altogether.
“Not Worried,” Says Oil Minister
Energy Minister Hardeep Singh Puri struck an equally confident note on Thursday, telling reporters that India could pivot to “alternative sources” should Russian flows be disrupted by sanctions. “I’m not worried at all,” he said, noting that Indian refiners now source crude from about 40 countries, up from 27 before the Ukraine conflict.
Bottom line: New Delhi sees its crude‑import strategy as a matter of national interest—and argues that any future sanctions regime should apply the same rules to everyone buying Russian energy, not just to a handful of countries outside the Western alliance.