India Asserts Energy Security Amid EU Sanctions on Russian Oil

• India asserts energy needs despite Western pressure over Russian oil.
• EU sanctions lead to a 27% drop in India’s fuel exports to Europe.
• Trump warns of 100% tariffs if Russian oil trade continues.

After Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the United Kingdom, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri noted increasing concern over Western pressure on India in relation to its continuing imports of Russian oil, and expressed that India’s energy security is one of the national interests to keep in place as the global circumstances unfold. Misri’s comments came after the European Union’s recent sanctions imposed on Russia for its war in Ukraine.

"We have been very clear that insofar as energy security is concerned, it is the highest priority of the government of India to provide energy security for the people of India, and we will do what we need to do with regard to that", Misri stated.

"On energy-related issues itself, also, as we have said previously, it is important not to have double standards and to have a clear-eyed perception of what the global situation is insofar as the broader energy market is concerned... We do understand that there is an important and serious security issue that is confronting Europe, but the rest of the world is also there. It is also dealing with issues that are existential for the rest of the world, and I think it's important to keep balance and perspective when talking about these issues", he added.

The sanctions will tighten some restrictions on refined fuels from Russian crude oil, lower its price cap, and also sanction Rosneft’s joint venture in India, and include new banking restrictions – all efforts to reduce Russia's revenue from oil sales. The sanctions are the EU's attempt to measure the effect on countries like India, the UAE, and Turkey that take Russian crude oil and refine it into diesel, petrol, and jet fuel to send back to Europe.

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"India's $5 billion exports of petroleum products to the EU are at risk. The EU's new sanctions ban imports of refined petroleum made from Russian crude via third countries like India", said GTRI Founder Ajay Srivastava.

India has already experienced the consequences. A recent report indicated that petroleum product exports to the EU decreased from $19.2 billion in FY24 to $15 billion in FY25 — a fall of 27.1%. Concurrently, India imported $50.3 billion of crude oil from Russia in FY25, accounting for more than one-third of the total crude oil imported.

"I would tell China, India & Brazil. If you keep buying cheap Russian oil, to allow this war to continue, we will tariff the hell out of you. And we’re going to crush your economy, because what you are doing is blood money", said US Senator Lindsey Graham.

At the same time, the U.S. under President Donald Trump is issuing strong warnings to BRICS countries, including India, China and Brazil, that continued purchases of Russian oil will carry serious consequences to their economy. Trump even advised that in 50 days, if Russia does not agree to a peace agreement, he would impose 100% "secondary tariffs".