US Double Standards on Russian Oil: Why India Is Asked to Stop While the US Keeps Buying

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by

Himanshu
in

The Russia-Ukraine war has completely reshaped the global energy market. After sanctions on Russia were announced, one country found itself caught in the middle—India. Washington has repeatedly urged India to reduce or stop buying Russian oil, while the U.S. and its allies have quietly continued certain purchases themselves.

This has raised an important question: Why is India being pressured when others, including the U.S., are not following the same rules?

The Reality of Sanctions on Russian Oil

  • No Direct UN Sanctions:
    The U.S. tried to push for a United Nations–backed global sanction on Russian oil, but countries like China and India did not agree. As a result, there is no universal UN sanction—only Western-led restrictions.
  • G7 Price Cap:
    The U.S. and European allies set a price cap of $60 per barrel for Russian oil. This was meant to reduce Moscow’s revenue without completely removing Russian oil from the market.
  • Loopholes:
    While Western countries say they have banned direct imports, they often buy refined petroleum products from countries like India and China that still import Russian crude. In effect, Russian oil is still entering Western markets—just indirectly.

India’s Position

India has not violated any international law by buying Russian crude because:

  1. No UN Sanction Exists – India is free under international law to buy Russian oil.
  2. Energy Security – India is the world’s third-largest importer of oil and needs affordable energy to support its growing economy.
  3. Discounted Prices – Russia has been selling crude to India at discounted rates (sometimes $20–30 cheaper), which helps India manage inflation and energy costs.

Why the U.S. Position Seems Like a Double Standard

US / West ActionIndia’s SituationDouble Standard
Tried to push sanctions at UN, but failedIndia legally continues importsIf sanctions are not global, why pressure India?
G7 imposed price cap, but Russian oil still flows indirectlyIndia buys directly at discounted priceU.S. still indirectly consumes Russian oil
Europe increased LNG and coal imports from RussiaIndia openly buys crudeQuiet imports vs public pressure
U.S. imports other Russian goods (like uranium for nuclear plants)India imports crude for energy needsSelective restrictions

Why the U.S. Wants India to Stop

  1. Geopolitical Strategy – Washington wants to isolate Moscow completely and reduce its oil revenue.
  2. Influence on India – As India is a rising global power and U.S. partner in QUAD, America expects India to align with its position.
  3. Optics – The West wants to show that Russia is cornered, but India’s purchases weaken that narrative.

India’s Response

India has consistently maintained:

  • “We will buy oil from wherever it is cheapest and in the interest of our citizens.”
  • Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar has repeatedly said: “Europe has bought more oil from Russia in one afternoon than India has in months.”

This makes it clear that India sees oil purchases as economic necessity, not political alignment.

Final Thoughts

The U.S. urging India to stop Russian oil imports while itself and its allies indirectly consume Russian energy highlights a clear double standard.

  • If sanctions are not global, they cannot be enforced selectively.
  • Energy security comes first for India, just like it does for the U.S. and Europe.
  • Until there is a truly global framework, India’s strategy of buying discounted Russian oil remains legal, practical, and justified.

👉 In reality, this is less about morality and more about geopolitics and economic competition.