India on Friday strongly criticised the European Union’s latest sanctions package against Russia, which includes measures targeting an Indian-based Rosneft-linked oil refinery in Gujarat. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) rejected the EU’s unilateral move, reaffirming that India does not recognise sanctions imposed outside the United Nations framework.

The EU’s 14th sanctions package, aimed at further restricting Russia’s revenues amid its war in Ukraine, includes tighter banking rules, measures on shadow fleet shipping, a lower oil price cap, and, for the first time, sanctions affecting infrastructure located in India.

Specifically, the sanctions target Nayara Energy’s 20-million-tonne-per-year refinery in Gujarat’s Vadinar, where Russian energy firm Rosneft holds a 49.13 per cent stake.

“We have noted the latest sanctions announced by the European Union. India does not subscribe to any unilateral sanction measures. We are a responsible actor and remain fully committed to our legal obligations,” said MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal in a statement.

The “unilateral sanctions” by the EU could block Nayara from exporting refined products such as diesel and petrol to European nations. Responding to this, India underscored its right to energy access and reiterated its long-standing position on energy sovereignty.

“The Government of India considers the provision of energy security a responsibility of paramount importance to meet the basic needs of its citizens. We would stress that there should be no double standards, especially when it comes to energy trade,” Jaiswal added.

The EU sanctions also lower the crude oil price cap, currently at USD 60 per barrel, which may unintentionally allow India, the world’s second-largest buyer of Russian oil, to access Russian crude at even lower prices.

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