EU Mulls Sanctions on China Over Russian Oil, Gas Purchases

(MENAFN) The European Union is exploring secondary sanctions targeting China due to its ongoing purchases of Russian oil and gas, media reported Monday, citing unnamed sources.

According to media, EU officials began discussing the issue on Sunday, but a source cautioned the talks remain at a “very early stage.” Before moving forward with any punitive actions against Beijing, Brussels aims to secure the “full backing of the US and co-ordination with Washington,” media added.

To facilitate this, EU representatives traveled to the United States on Monday, while US Energy Secretary Chris Wright is scheduled to visit Brussels later in the week, the report noted.

Since the escalation of the Ukraine conflict in February 2022, China has become the largest importer of Russian oil.

Earlier this year, the EU sanctioned several Chinese companies for allegedly supporting industries aiding Russia’s military. Beijing condemned the sanctions as “unreasonable” and accused the EU of “double standards,” stressing that China tightly regulates dual-use goods and denies supplying lethal weapons to any party involved in the Ukraine war.

On Sunday, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent hinted that the US and EU may introduce further sanctions against countries purchasing Russian oil.

Beijing has vowed to “ensure its energy supply” in a manner that safeguards its interests and warned that “tariff wars have no winners.”

Last month, US President Donald Trump doubled tariffs on India to 50%, citing New Delhi's continued purchases of Russian oil. Indian officials condemned the decision as “unfair, unjustified, and unreasonable.” Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman emphasized last week that India will persist in buying Russian crude, underscoring that its oil imports are driven by economic priorities, not external pressures.

During his recent four-day visit to China, Russian President Vladimir Putin cautioned the West against addressing economic powers like China and India in an “unacceptable” tone, asserting that attempts to pressure Beijing and New Delhi aim to hinder their economic rise.

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