On Wednesday, President Donald Trump decided on application of 25 % duties on Indiajustifying this with the import of Russian oil through this country. India use part of the raw material for internal needs, and the remaining part They further export – also to Western countries. This allows Russia to avoid sanctions, which were imposed on it after the war with Ukraine in 2022. In this India mechanism earn in mediationand Russia is gaining new sales channels.
In the context of Trump's decision, Senator Lindsey Graham made a warning to Europe, writing in social media that the US is aware that some European countries are buying Russian oil through India.
“It must end immediately” Graham wrote. A politician known for his sharp positions towards Russia also reminded that he had previously postulated duties in the amount of 500 percent. to countries continuing trade with Moscow.
Responding to these comments, the spokesman for the EC Olof Gill reminded that the EU has already introduced strict restrictions against the Russian energy sector.
“We generally agree with the USA as to the final goal” – he said.
“We have taken the sharpest possible actions under subsequent sanction packages, hitting the Russian economy where it is most felt to weaken its ability to wage war” He added.
- “Unfair, unjustified and unreasonable.” India reacts to American duties
EU sanctions and restrictions: pus under strict supervision
Gill pointed out that as part of the sixth EU sanction package she introduced an embargo to Russian oil. What's more, the import of such a raw material by the third state and further export to the EU does not change the fact that oil is still treated as Russian and prohibited.
“Therefore, if any third country imports Russian oil, and then exports it to us, this raw material is considered Russian oil and therefore covered by our ban on imports” – he emphasized.
In the latest, 18th packet of sanctions, the Union also banned refined products created from Russian oil, even if they were processed outside Russia.
“This means a complete reduction of the import of refined products made of Russian oil, processed abroad and supplied to the EU. In other words, we have taken decisive actions to prevent Russian oil from getting to the EU market in any form” – noted Gill.
However, Hungary and Slovakia are still excluded from the ban, which can bring raw material with oil pipeline. In the past, the recipients of Russian oil were also, among others France and the Netherlands.
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Movable price limit instead of a rigid ceiling
The European Union and G7 countries have already set a price ceiling for Russian oil at the level of $ 60 per barrel. However, due to the decrease in market prices, in the 18th Sanction Package, the EU adopted a more flexible solution – the price limit dependent on the market.
The new mechanism predicts that the ceiling will be set at 15 percent. Below the average market price from the last three months, and is to enter into force on September 3. Importantly, the United States has not joined this solution.
