On the 'crackdown' appeal from the EU envoy, Jaishankar argues in favour of India exporting Russian oil as refined fuels.
Tuesday at the EU's headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, S. Jaishankar, India's minister of external affairs, addressed the media during a press conference regarding the EU-India Trade and Technology Council. (AP)
Josep Borrell, head of foreign policy for the EU, called for action against Indian refined products made from Russian crude in statements on Tuesday (local time), but External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar suggested that he look at EU Council rules in response.
"Examine EU Council legislation; Russian crude is significantly changed in a third country and is no longer treated as Russian. I kindly request that you review Council Regulation 833/2014 "Jaishankar remarked.
As Western nations move to tighten sanctions on Moscow's energy industry, the EU should crack down on India reselling Russian oil as refined fuels such as diesel into Europe, the bloc's chief diplomat said earlier.
In an interview with the Financial Times, EU foreign policy chief Borrell stated, "India imports Russian oil, it's normal... but the bloc should act on refined products coming from India-made Russian crude.
At the trade technology negotiations in Brussels, Borrell had a meeting with Jaishankar; nevertheless, he was absent from the press conference that followed.
Margrethe Vestager, the EU's executive vice president for competition, spoke in his stead, stating that there was "no dispute" regarding the penalties' legality and that the EU and India would discuss the matter "as friends... with an extended hand and of course, not a pointed finger."
Piyush Goyal, the minister of commerce, and Rajeev Chandrasekhar, the union minister of state for entrepreneurship, skill development, electronics, and technology, attended the meeting in addition to Jaishankar.
Jaishankar arrived in Brussels on Monday for the final leg of his trip to Bangladesh, Sweden, and Belgium.
Jaishankar had previously defended India's imports from Russia while subtly criticising the West for pressuring New Delhi to reduce its trade with Russia in light of its military intervention in Ukraine.
"Please take a look at these numbers, I beg you. A website called "Russia Fossil Fuel Tracker" provides information on who is actually importing what, nation by country, and I think that would be incredibly beneficial "Added he.