India hits back at EU over Russian-linked Gujarat refinery, says 'no double standards'.
By : Sandhya
India Rejects EU Sanctions on Rosneft-Linked Refinery, Cites Energy Sovereignty
New Delhi, July 19 – India has strongly pushed back against the European Union's latest sanctions package, which for the first time targets an Indian-based refinery linked to Russian oil giant Rosneft. The move has drawn sharp criticism from New Delhi, which reiterated its long-held position of not recognizing unilateral sanctions.
In a statement on Friday, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said:
“India does not subscribe to any unilateral sanction measures. We are a responsible actor and remain fully committed to our legal obligations.”
The EU’s newly announced 14th sanctions package, intended to ramp up pressure on Russia over the Ukraine conflict, includes tighter financial restrictions, shipping limitations, and a reduction in the oil price cap. Notably, it now includes Nayara Energy’s Vadinar refinery in Gujarat—a 20-million-tonne-per-year facility in which Rosneft holds a 49.13% stake.
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas confirmed on social media that the sanctions list now includes “a flag registry and the biggest Rosneft refinery in India.” The move effectively blocks Nayara from exporting refined petroleum products, such as diesel and petrol, to EU countries.
India, however, sees this as an infringement on its sovereign right to secure energy for its population. The MEA emphasized that ensuring energy access is a “paramount responsibility” of the Indian government and warned against “double standards” in the global energy trade.
The irony, according to analysts, lies in the unintended consequence of the sanctions: by lowering the oil price cap (currently $60 per barrel), the EU may enable India—the second-largest buyer of Russian crude—to obtain Russian oil at even more favorable prices.
Despite mounting pressure from Western allies, India has consistently maintained a neutral stance on the Russia-Ukraine conflict, asserting its national interest in global energy markets and rejecting any coercive