India Says US, EU 'Targeting' Nation Over Russian Oil Imports

(MENAFN- Khaleej Times)

India said on Monday that EU and US "targeting" of the nation for importing oil from Russia after the commencement of the Ukraine conflict is "unjustified and unreasonable."

"Like any major economy, India will take all necessary measures to safeguard its national interests and economic security," the Foreign Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said in a statement.

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India on Monday argued it "began importing from Russia because traditional supplies were diverted to Europe after the outbreak of the conflict".

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It also noted that Washington at that time had "actively encouraged such imports by India for strengthening global energy markets stability."

It pointed to what it suggested were double standards of EU and US trade with Moscow. "It is revealing that the very nations criticising India are themselves indulging in trade with Russia," Jaiswal added. "Unlike our case, such trade is not even a vital national compulsion."

"Europe-Russia trade includes not just energy, but also fertilisers, mining products, chemicals, iron and steel and machinery and transport equipment," the statement added.

"Where the United States is concerned, it continues to import from Russia uranium hexafluoride for its nuclear industry, palladium for its EV industry, fertilisers as well as chemicals."

US President Donald Trump earlier said he would "substantially" increase tariffs on India.

"India is not only buying massive amounts of Russian Oil, they are then, for much of the Oil purchased, selling it on the Open Market for big profits. They don't care how many people in Ukraine are being killed by the Russian War Machine," Trump said in a post on Truth Social.

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