India on Thursday responded to the UK’s decision to sanction an Indian refiner, saying it does not recognise unilateral restrictions and will continue to prioritise the energy needs of its citizens over Western pressure on Russian oil trade.
“We have noted the latest sanctions announced by the UK. India does not subscribe to any unilateral sanctions. 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 during a weekly briefing.
“Indian companies source energy supplies from around the world while taking overall market conditions into account. We would stress that there should be no double standards, especially when it comes to energy trade,” he added.
VIDEO | Delhi: Regarding UK Sanctions on Gujarat’s Nayara refinery, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal (@MEAIndia) says, “We have noted the latest sanctions announced by the UK. India does not subscribe to any unilateral sanctions. Government of India considers the provision of… pic.twitter.com/o8G4Hb096F
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) October 16, 2025
The response followed London’s move announced by Chancellor Rachel Reeves, which includes 90 new designations — among them India’s Nayara Energy and four Chinese oil terminals accused of facilitating Russian crude sales. Reeves said the measures would “significantly step up pressure on Russia and Vladimir Putin’s war effort,” by hitting Moscow’s vital energy revenues.
Russia’s two biggest oil companies, Rosneft and Lukoil, which together export over 3 million barrels per day, are among those sanctioned. The UK government said Rosneft alone accounts for nearly half of Russia’s oil output, which is around 6 per cent of global production. London has also sanctioned 44 tankers operating in Russia’s “shadow fleet,” which helps transport oil around the world despite Western embargoes.
“We are sending a clear signal: Russian oil is off the market,” Reeves said, BBC News reported, adding that the sanctions were coordinated with allies to disrupt Russia’s wartime financing.
Nayara Energy Limited, which is partly owned by Rosneft, has been targeted for allegedly importing around 100 million barrels of Russian crude worth over $5 billion in 2024. Reeves said the UK would continue pressuring “companies in third countries, including India and China, that facilitate Russian oil reaching global markets.”
Russia says sanctions will ‘destablise global energy markets’
Moscow condemned the measures. The Russian embassy in London, according to BBC News, said the sanctions would “destabilise global energy markets” and “hurt consumers worldwide,” warning they would also undermine the energy security of developing nations. “Pressure only complicates peaceful dialogue and leads to further escalation,” a spokesperson added.
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The UK’s action has put India in a tight spot between Western allies pushing for sanctions compliance and New Delhi’s commitment to affordable energy supplies, which have increasingly come from Russia since 2022.
