On EU official call against India over Russian oil, Jaishankar’s blunt response
Hindustan TimesNEW DELHI: India has pushed back against a suggestion by a top European Union official for a crackdown on Russian oil resold by Indian firms as refined fuels, with external affairs minister S Jaishankar saying such exports don’t violate EU regulations. External affairs minister S Jaishankar addresses the media during a press conference on the EU-India Trade and Technology Council at EU headquarters in Brussels EU foreign and security policy chief Josep Borrell said on Tuesday that Brussels is aware Indian refiners are buying large volumes of Russian crude oil and processing it into fuels for sale in Europe. Asked about Borrell’s remarks by a reporter, Jaishankar replied: “I really don’t see the basis for your question because my understanding of the Council regulations is that if Russian crude is substantially transformed in a third country, then it’s not treated as Russian any more.” He added, “I would urge you to look at Council regulation 833/2014.” This regulation, which is part of measures put in place by the EU to restrict Russia’s earnings from crude oil following the invasion of Ukraine, bans the import of crude oil and petroleum products originating in Russia. At his bilateral meeting with Jaishankar, Borrell reiterated the EU’s “unwavering resolve” to support Ukraine, including efforts to “secure a comprehensive, just and lasting peace based on the UN Charter”.