[Report] According to reports from India’s Economic Times and other media, in response to the statements made by NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg regarding trade relations between countries like India and Russia, an Indian Foreign Ministry spokesperson issued a response on the 17th, warning against adopting “double standards” on trade issues.
The Economic Times reported that Stoltenberg claimed on the 16th that if countries like India, Brazil, China, and others continue to engage in trade with Russia, they might face “secondary sanctions.” In response at a meeting on the 17th, the spokesperson for the Indian Foreign Ministry stated, “We have seen reports on this matter and are closely monitoring its development.”
“I would like to reiterate that ensuring our people’s energy needs is clearly our top priority,” said the spokesperson. “In this effort, we have formulated strategies based on the resources available in the market and the current global situation. We must particularly caution against any double standards in this regard.”
Regarding Stoltenberg’s sanction threats, Lin Jian, a spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, also expressed his views at the same meeting on the 16th. He reiterated China’s consistent belief that dialogue and negotiations are the only viable path to resolve the Ukraine crisis. He firmly opposes any illegal unilateral sanctions and “long-arm jurisdiction.” He emphasized that there are no winners in a trade war, and coercion and pressure cannot solve problems. He hopes that all parties can further create a climate and accumulate conditions for promoting a political resolution to the Ukraine crisis, doing more beneficial work to facilitate peace talks.