Three years into the full-scale invasion of Ukraine by President Vladimir Putin, Russia continues to supply billions of euros worth of energy and commodities to the very countries that have vocally opposed its aggression. Despite sweeping sanctions and restrictions, both the United States and the European Union (EU) remain significantly tied to Russian trade, prompting criticism from India over what it calls Western “double standards.”
India’s rebuke came after renewed threats from U.S. presidential candidate Donald Trump over its increased crude oil purchases from Moscow. In response, New Delhi highlighted the continuing trade engagements between Western nations and Russia, casting a spotlight on the uneven application of sanctions.
European Union: Trade Falls but Key Imports Continue
Since the war began in 2022, EU imports from Russia have dropped 86%, from €30.58 billion in Q1 2021 to €8.74 billion in Q1 2025, according to Eurostat. However, critical imports such as oil, gas, iron, steel, and fertilisers persist.
• Oil: Russia’s share of EU petroleum imports has plunged to 2.01% in 2025 from nearly 29% in 2021.
• Natural Gas: Once the EU’s primary supplier, Russia now holds only 17% market share, down from 48%.
• Fertilisers: Despite recent EU moves to increase tariffs, Russia remains the bloc’s largest fertiliser supplier, holding a 25.62% share.
• Iron & Steel: Russia’s contribution dropped from 18.28% to 7.71% over the same period.
India: Trade Soars Amid Sanctions Elsewhere
In stark contrast, India’s imports from Russia have seen a dramatic increase—from $8.25 billion in 2021 to $65.7 billion in 2024.
• Crude Oil: The driving force behind this growth, oil imports surged to $52.2 billion in 2024 from just $2.31 billion in 2021.
• Coal Products: Imports grew to $3.5 billion from $1.12 billion.
• Fertilisers: Jumped to $1.67 billion in 2024 from $483 million.
United States: Modest Declines in Key Sectors
U.S. imports from Russia fell to $2.5 billion in H1 2025, compared to $14.14 billion in the same period of 2021, as per data from the U.S. Census Bureau and the Bureau of Economic Analysis.
• Fertilisers: Increased slightly to $1.27 billion in 2024.
• Uranium and Plutonium: Held relatively steady, at $624 million in 2024.
• Palladium: Down significantly from $1.59 billion in 2021 to $878 million in 2024.
Reported by Mireia Merino and Tristan Veyet for Reuters, the findings highlight the complex and often contradictory dynamics of global geopolitics and trade. While sanctions have reshaped trade volumes, they have not entirely severed economic ties. The continuing flow of critical Russian exports to the West underscores the difficulties of implementing comprehensive sanctions without economic repercussions.
As global leaders navigate these realities, accusations of hypocrisy are likely to intensify, especially from major emerging economies like India, which see themselves unfairly targeted while the West maintains selective engagement with Moscow.
