New Delhi [India], August 20 (ANI): Russian Charge d’Affaires Roman Babushkin on Wednesday sharply criticised the United States for imposing ‘sanctions’ on India, stating that such actions reflect a lack of trust, double standards, and disrespect for national sovereignty. He stressed that if Washington truly regarded New Delhi as a friend, it would not “behave like that.”
Addressing a press briefing amid growing concerns over US economic pressure, particularly related to India’s oil trade with Russia, Babushkin described the sanctions as tools of “unlawful competition” designed to weaponise the economy.
“As we all know, the sanctions are a tool of unlawful competition. It’s always about double standards — a lack of trust, blackmail, pressure, and disrespect of national interests. Friends don’t behave like that,” he said.
He underlined that neither Russia nor BRICS nations impose sanctions, calling non-United Nations sanctions and secondary sanctions “illegal.” Despite unprecedented Western sanctions, Babushkin asserted that Russia’s economy continues to grow, proving such measures ineffective and harmful even to those imposing them.
“You will never see sanctions imposed by Russia or within BRICS organisations where we participate. Non-United Nations sanctions and secondary sanctions are illegal. Despite the tremendous sanction pressure on Russia, the Russian economy is growing steadily. You cannot exclude from the global economy such a large and important country with its energy, industrial, and human potential. Sanctions fail, and moreover, they harm those who impose them,” he added.
On Washington’s threat of an additional 25 per cent tariff if India continues importing Russian oil, Russia’s Deputy Trade Representative in India, Evgeny Griva, reassured that Moscow’s energy supplies remain crucial.
“Russia provides approximately 40 per cent of India’s crude oil. This share is vital for the Indian economy and practically cannot be changed. Our supply is indispensable,” Griva said.
Babushkin reaffirmed the resilience of India-Russia ties, highlighting their mutual accommodation in trade and energy despite external pressures.
“Russia is the biggest supplier of crude oil to India, and India’s demands are growing year by year. This is a perfect case of complementarity between our economies. Despite external pressures, our cooperation has always continued in line with our mutual and national interests. We are quite certain it will continue,” Babushkin concluded.
The remarks come as the US pushes ahead with additional tariffs on Indian goods while pressuring New Delhi to limit its energy imports from Russia. (ANI)
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