'Will do what we need to do': India dismisses EU sanction threat on Russian oil

Foreign secretary Vikram Misri

India accords the highest priority to ensuring energy security for the people of the country and is ready to take whatever steps are required in that regard, foreign secretary Vikram Misri said on July 22, slamming the “double standards” of the West on the issue.

“...We have been very clear that insofar as energy security is concerned, it is the highest priority of the government of India to provide energy security for the people of India, and we will do what we need to do with regard to that,” he said during a press briefing.

The comments come a day before Prime Minister Narendra Modi's scheduled departure to the UK, where he is expected to meet his British counterpart Keir Starmer. The two leaders are expected to discuss bilateral issues, including free trade agreement and other key security issues.

Misri said Europe and other Western nations need to keep balance and perspective on the issue of energy and that it is important to not have any “double standards”. “We do understand that there is an important and serious security issue that is confronting Europe, but the rest of the world is also there. It is also dealing with issues that are existential for the rest of the world, and I think it's important to keep balance and perspective when talking about these issues."

#WATCH | Delhi | Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri says, "...We have been very clear that insofar as energy security is concerned, it is the highest priority of the government of India to provide energy security for the people of India, and we will do what we need to do with regard… pic.twitter.com/xkQr1zpJGO

— ANI (@ANI) July 22, 2025

Last Friday, the European Union agreed on an 18th package of sanctions against Russia over its war in Ukraine, including measures aimed at dealing further blows to the Russian oil and energy industry.

The EU will set a moving price cap on Russian crude at 15% below its average market price, EU diplomats said, aiming to improve on a largely ineffective $60 cap that the Group of Seven major economies have tried to impose since December 2022.

Britain also announced it would join the price cap move, saying it would deal a blow to Moscow's oil revenues used to finance the ongoing conflict with Ukraine.

India had slammed the development, saying it does not subscribe to any unilateral sanction measures and it remains fully committed to its legal obligations.

"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," MEA said in statement.