Indian Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal accused Western nations of hypocrisy in their handling of sanctions on Russian oil, pointing out the exemptions granted to European operations while pressuring India to halt its trade.
During a panel at the Berlin Global Dialogue conference on Friday, Goyal clashed with his British counterpart, Chris Bryant, over exemptions for Rosneft subsidiaries.
“I read a report that Germany has reached out to the US for seeking exemption [for a Rosneft subsidiary]. The UK already has an exemption for procuring oil,” Goyal said.
Bryant interjected, noting the issue applied only to a “particular” subsidiary. Goyal countered by highlighting India’s own Rosneft-linked refinery, Nayara Energy, which is partly owned by the Russian firm and supplies petroleum products globally, including to Europe.
’India Has Never Decided Who Its Friends Will Be Based On Anything Other Than National Interest’ – Commerce Minister Again Asserts New Delhi’s Position Amid US Pressure pic.twitter.com/FTE32J7Ant
— RT_India (@RT_India_news) October 24, 2025
Nayara was hit by EU sanctions in July and UK measures on October 15, with potential disruptions looming after recent US sanctions on Rosneft and Lukoil.
Reuters reported Berlin seeking a US exemption for Rosneft’s German business, placed under government trusteeship in 2022. The UK, shortly after its own sanctions, issued a special license for two German subsidiaries under state control.
Goyal emphasised India’s resistance to pressure in ongoing trade talks with the EU and US. “We don’t do deals in a hurry, and we don’t do deals with deadlines or with a gun on our head,” he said, adding that India’s negotiations prioritise long-term national interests over short-term demands.
Sources: quotes by Piyush Goyal and RT India: Indian commerce minister exposes Western double standards on Russian oil