'Double standards': India rejects Nato chief's Russian oil remarks, says 'energy needs an overriding priority'

India has rejected Nato chief Mark Rutte’s warning about buying Russian oil and has flagged the double standards of the international community.

Earlier this week, Rutte referred to secondary tariffs that US lawmakers have been pushing for countries buying Russian oil and gas and urged countries like India to either convince Russia to stop attacks on Ukraine or be ready to be hit "very hard" .

Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal on Thursday said that India will continue to secure energy requirement of its irrespective of whatever anyone might say. He further flagged the double standards of the West in their narrative of the Indian purchase of Russian oil.

“Let me reiterate that securing energy needs of our people is understandably an overriding priority for us. In this endeavor, we ae guided by what is on offer in the markets, and by the prevailing global circumstances. We would particularly caution against any double standards on the matter,” said Jaiswal.

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For context, European nations that largely make up the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (Nato) have paid more money to Russia for energy imports than they have given to Ukraine in aid since the beginning of the Russia-Ukraine war in 2022.

#WATCH | Delhi | On Nato chief Mark Rutte's comment that countries buying Russian oil could face secondary sanctions, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal says, "We have seen reports on the subject and are closely following the developments. Let me reiterate that securing the energy… pic.twitter.com/SdhmWRQYLL

— ANI (@ANI) July 17, 2025

Why Rutte’s comments on India were misdirected

Earlier this week, Rutte singled out India and said the failure to stop buying Russian oil could hit it “in a massive way”.

“My encouragement to these three countries, particularly is, if you live now in Beijing, or in Delhi, or you are the president of Brazil, you might want to take a look into this, because this might hit you very hard. So please make the phone call to Vladimir Putin and tell him that he has to get serious about peace talks, because otherwise this will slam back on Brazil, on India and on China in a massive way,” said Rutte.

Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, India has ramped up the purchase of discounted Russian oil . Officials and commentators in the West have often criticised the Indian purchase of oil as they have accused India and other buyers like China of funding the Russian war.

Energy exports, such as oil and gas, make up a huge chunk of Russian revenues that it uses to fund the war on Ukraine. However, these officials and commentators, such as Rutte, ignore the fact that European nations have also continued to buy Russian oil and gas. In fact, European nations have paid Russia more for such imports than they have given to Ukraine in aid.

Consider this: Since 2022, the European Union (EU) has been the largest buyer of Russian liquified natural gas (51 per cent) and pipeline gas (37 per cent) and Turkey —a Nato member— has been the largest buyer of Russian oil products (26 per cent), according to the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA).

So far this year, EU members have bought €21.9 billion ($25.4 billion) of Russian oil and gas compared to €18.7 billion ($21.69 billion) that they have allocated in aid for Ukraine, according to estimates from the CREA.

Moreover, since 2022, estimates have said that the EU members have paid $215–235 billion to Russia for oil, gas, and coal, compared to $200 billion that they have allocated and pledged to Ukraine in aid.