Why in news?

India firmly dismissed concerns over possible U.S. sanctions on its Russian oil trade. Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri emphasized India’s diversified oil imports—from 27 to 40 countries—and said India would handle any challenges.

On the same day, MEA warned against “double standards,” stressing India’s priority is securing affordable energy for its people based on market availability and global conditions.

These remarks came after NATO chief Mark Rutte suggested countries buying Russian oil could face U.S. secondary sanctions aimed at pressuring Russia over the Ukraine war.

What’s in Today’s Article?

• New US Sanctions Threat Looms Over India’s Russian Oil Trade
• Should India Be Concerned About New US Sanctions
• Mixed Reactions in the West to Trump’s New Russia Sanctions Plan

New US Sanctions Threat Looms Over India’s Russian Oil Trade

• The United States is signaling tougher measures against countries trading with Russia, directly impacting India.
• US President Donald Trump, now taking a firmer stance on Russia, has warned of imposing “secondary sanctions” if Moscow does not end its war in Ukraine within 50 days.
• This would mean penalties targeting Russia’s key trading partners like India, China, and Brazil.
• NATO chief Mark Rutte also cautioned India, urging Delhi to pressure Russia into peace talks to avoid facing severe economic fallout.
• In addition, the US Congress is considering a bill that would impose up to 500% tariffs on buyers of Russian energy.
• These moves reflect growing Western frustration as existing sanctions have not crippled Russia’s economy, largely because of its ongoing trade with countries including India.

Should India Be Concerned About New US Sanctions

• India’s trade with Russia has grown sharply, reaching a record $68.7 billion in FY 2024–25—almost six times the pre-pandemic figure.
• India’s key imports from Russia include crude oil, petroleum products, fertilizers, and coal, with oil purchases rising significantly after Western sanctions on Moscow in 2022.
  • In May 2025 alone, India imported $4.42 billion worth of crude from Russia.
• While this raises concern over potential US sanctions, India maintains it has diversified its oil sources and can shift suppliers if necessary.
• Moreover, there’s skepticism over whether former President Trump would follow through on such harsh measures, especially since India and the US are negotiating a trade deal that sanctions would disrupt.
• Another factor is China—Russia’s largest trade partner—making it uncertain if the US would risk escalating tensions with Beijing again.
• Finally, targeting Russian oil buyers could unsettle global energy markets, causing blowback for the US and its allies as well.

Mixed Reactions in the West to Trump’s New Russia Sanctions Plan

• Trump’s proposed 50-day deadline for Russia to end the Ukraine war and threats of secondary sanctions have drawn a mixed response in the West.
• Some welcome his tougher stance, seeing it as a shift from his earlier reluctance to support Ukraine.
• However, many worry the deadline could backfire—giving Russia time to seize more Ukrainian territory and strengthen its bargaining power.
• Critics also point out that Trump’s proposals lack clear details and timelines.
• Meanwhile, his core MAGA (Make America Great Again) supporters feel betrayed, viewing this move as a departure from Trump’s pledge to avoid foreign entanglements.