India not concerned about sanctions on Russian crude: Hardeep Puri

Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri has asserted that India is not concerned about sanctions on Russian crude as there are enough supplies in the market. Speaking at Urja Varta 2025 in New Delhi on Thursday , Puri stated that India will import oil from wherever it is available at the cheapest price. He highlighted that this is the new India where the government is not driven by pressure, but by impact. The Minister pointed out that India has diversified its sources of supply from buying oil from about 27 countries to around 40 now.

ये नया भारत है...जहाँ दबाव वाली नहीं, प्रभाव वाली सरकार है।

PM @narendramodi जी पर किसी का दबाव नहीं चलता। उनकी प्रतिबद्धता देशवासियों के प्रति है।

भारत को जहाँ सस्ता मिलेगा, वहां से तेल आयात करेगा।@PetroleumMin @DghIndia #UrjaVarta2025 pic.twitter.com/vnVPtwdxwa

— Hardeep Singh Puri (@HardeepSPuri) July 17, 2025

The Ministry of External Affairs on Thursday responded to North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) chief Mark Rutte's remarks on possible sanctions over India's trade with Russia, cautioning against "double standards". MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, at the weekly media briefing in Delhi, said, "We have seen reports on the subject and are closely following the developments. Let me reiterate that securing the energy needs of our people is understandably an overriding priority for us." Jaiswal warned of double standards regarding the matter and said, "In this endeavour, we are guided by what is on offer in the markets and by prevailing global circumstances. We would particularly caution against any double standards on the matter." 

VIDEO | MEA press briefing: Reacting to NATO Chief Mark Rutte’s remarks, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal (@MEAIndia) says, “We have seen reports on the subject and are closely following the developments. Let me reiterate that securing energy needs of our people is understandably… pic.twitter.com/RmZWHpMGE1

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) July 17, 2025

NATO secretary general Rutte had warned on Wednesday that countries such as Brazil, China and India could be hit very hard by secondary sanctions if they continued to do business with Russia.