Archive · 18 Sep 2025
EU Criticizes India's Russia Ties Despite Its Own Trade
The EU, a group of European countries, is telling India it's not happy about India buying oil and doing military exercises with Russia.
The EU wants to be friends with India but thinks these actions are wrong.
However, the EU is still trading a lot with Russia itself.
The EU is buying things like chemicals and metals from Russia, while criticizing India for buying oil.
India says it needs the oil and it's up to them how to make their own choices.
The EU criticized India's continued trade and military cooperation with Russia.
EU leaders highlighted India's participation in joint military drills with Russia and oil purchases as obstacles.
The EU is India's largest trading partner and aims to strengthen ties.
The EU's trade with Russia is almost equal to India's.
Europe's chemical and metal imports from Russia are far greater than India's.
- Who
- EU leaders, Indian officials
- What
- Criticism of India's trade and military engagement with Russia
- When
- September 17, 2025
- Where
- Brussels
- Why
- The EU wants to strengthen ties with India but disagrees with India's ties with Russia.
EU Position
India's Position
Trade and Military Ties with Russia
EU Position
India's continued engagement with Russia is an obstacle to closer ties and goes against the 'rules-based international order'.
India's Position
India has a sovereign right to make decisions in its national interest, and its energy needs are too large to be compromised by political demands.
EU's Trade with Russia
EU Position
The EU aims to isolate Russia.
India's Position
The EU's criticism is undermined by its ongoing trade with Russia.
- Key Players
- Kaja Kallas, Maros Sefcovic, Indian Officials
- Event
- EU criticism of India's Russian oil purchases and military exercises
- EU-India Trade
- EU is India's largest trading partner, growing over 90% in the last decade
- EU Trade with Russia (2024)
- $70.3 billion
- India Trade with Russia (2024)
- $72 billion
- EU Exports to Russia (2024)
- $34 billion
- Indian Exports to Russia (2024)
- $4.9 billion
Sources
Kremlin dismisses EU’s plans to phase out Russian energy, says sanctions will not alter Moscow’s position
Top energy expert: 'EU sanctions, US tariffs are not about oil. They want market access'
Kremlin Shrugs Off EU Plans To Speed Up Phase-Out Of Russia's Energy
Slovakia, Hungary Resist Trump’s Bid to Halt Russian Energy