New Delhi: External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar has revealed that the United States had encouraged India to continue purchasing Russian crude oil in 2022 to help maintain stability in global energy markets amid the disruptions caused by the Ukraine conflict.
Speaking at the Kultaranta Talks during a panel discussion alongside Finland’s Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen and UAE Assistant Foreign Minister Lana Nusseibeh, Jaishankar said India’s energy decisions were based on practical considerations such as price and supply availability rather than political ideology.
The minister noted that before the Russia-Ukraine war, India was not a major importer of Russian oil. However, changing market conditions forced New Delhi to diversify its energy sources.
According to Jaishankar, Washington had specifically urged India to purchase Russian oil at a time when global markets were facing severe uncertainty. He argued that international positions on sanctions and energy trade have shifted over time, reflecting strategic interests rather than rigid principles.
He pointed out that while the US had previously imposed tariff-related measures concerning India’s purchase of Russian oil, those restrictions were later eased, highlighting what he described as the pragmatic nature of global energy policies.
Explaining India’s approach, Jaishankar said European nations had significantly increased their purchases of Middle Eastern oil following the outbreak of the conflict, reducing availability from a region that traditionally supplied a major portion of India’s energy needs. As a result, India turned to Russian crude because it was competitively priced and readily available.
The External Affairs Minister described Russia as a dependable supplier that continued to ensure uninterrupted deliveries when global supply chains were under pressure. He stressed that India’s priority was securing affordable energy for its population and economy.
Responding to criticism from some European countries regarding India’s energy relationship with Moscow, Jaishankar asserted that India had never taken actions that threatened European security. He also remarked that military equipment supplied by certain European nations had, in the past, been used against India.
On the broader geopolitical debate surrounding the Ukraine war, Jaishankar said different regions naturally view global conflicts through the lens of their own priorities and security concerns. He maintained that it would be unrealistic to expect every country to assign the same level of importance to the conflict as European nations do.
Reiterating India’s position, Jaishankar said the country’s foreign policy and energy decisions would continue to be guided by national interests, economic realities and the welfare of its citizens.
