NEW DELHI: India on Thursday firmly rejected the United Kingdom’s latest sanctions targeting Russia’s oil sector and Indian firms, reiterating that it does not recognise unilateral sanctions, warning against “double standards” in energy trade.”We have noted the latest sanctions announced by the UK… We do not subscribe to any unilateral sanctions. The Government of India considers the provision of energy security a responsibility of paramount importance to meet the basic needs of its citizens,” MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said.”We would stress that there should be no double standards, especially when it comes to energy trade,” he added.These remarks came after the UK government announced 90 new sanctions on Wednesday, targeting Russia’s oil exports and entities linked to its energy trade, including India’s Nayara Energy Limited. The move, coordinated between the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and the Treasury, aims to “strike at the heart” of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s war funding network.”Today’s action demonstrates the government’s determination to cut off Putin’s revenue streams – targeting Russian companies and their global enablers,” the FCDO said in a statement.The sanctions cover four oil terminals in China, 44 oil tankers allegedly part of a “shadow fleet”transporting Russian crude, and Nayara Energy, which the UK claimed had imported 100 million barrels of Russian oil worth over $5 billion in 2024. London said the measures were meant to choke off energy revenues feeding Putin’s “war chest” amid the conflict in Ukraine.In response, Nayara Energy reaffirmed its compliance with Indian laws, stating that, “Nayara Energy operates in full compliance with the laws and regulations of India. As an Indian company, we are deeply committed to supporting the nation’s energy security and fostering economic growth.””Recently, Nayara Energy has come under international scrutiny, facing political pressures and the imposition of sanctions by the European Union which have no legal basis. We categorically state that this unilateral move by the European Union is founded on baseless assertions, representing an undue extension of authority that ignores both international law and the sovereignty of India,” it added.The UK said its latest measures also directly target Russia’s oil giants Rosneft and Lukoil, which together export about 3.1 million barrels per day. The FCDO noted that Rosneft alone accounts for nearly half of Russia’s oil production and around six per cent of global supply.
