The ministry of external affairs on Friday strongly lodged its protest against the European Union's "unilateral" move to sanction Russia, calling out its "double standards" in energy trade."We have noted the latest sanctions announced by the European Union.

EU sanctions target Rosneft's Indian refinery, lowering oil price cap to restrict Russian oil revenues and exports to Europe.

The European Union on Friday agreed an 18th package of sanctions against Russia over its war in Ukraine, including measures aimed at dealing further blows to the Russian oil and energy industry

India does not subscribe to any unilateral sanction measures, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in response to the European Union announcing fresh punitive measures on Russia, especially on its energy trade.

India said asserted that its energy procurement from Russia is based on national interests and market dynamics.

The 18th package of sanctions against Russia includes over 100 shadow fleet vessels, a lower price cap on Russian oil and measures targeting banks and companies outside the Russian Federation involved in supporting its war machine.

India is confident of meeting its oil needs from alternative sources if Russian supplies are hit by secondary sanctions, oil minister Hardeep Singh Puri said on Thursday.

Russian energy giant Rosneft’s plan to sell its stake in India-based Nayara Energy Ltd. may be imperiled by fresh restrictions from the European Union. The refinery, in which Rosneft has a 49.13 per cent stake, will be targeted in the bloc’s 18th sanctions package over Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine, an EU official said in an X post on Friday.

White House suggested that the so-called secondary tariffs mean 100 per cent tariffs on Russia and secondary sanctions on buyers of Russian oil.