In Moscow to meet his Russian counterpart, external affairs minister says New Delhi would continue the deal for the benefit of the domestic consumers
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, right, welcomes EAM S Jaishankar for talks in Moscow, Russia, on Tuesday. Pic/PTI
India will continue buying Russian oil as it is advantageous for the country, External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar said on Tuesday after meeting his Russian counterpart. India has emerged as Russia’s largest oil customer after China, as refiners snap up discounted Russian oil shunned by Western buyers over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on February 24.
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India, the world’s third-largest oil importer and a traditional ally of Russia, has not explicitly condemned what Russia calls its “special military operation in Ukraine”, and Tuesday marked the fifth meeting this year between Jaishankar and his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov.
“It is our fundamental obligation to ensure that the Indian consumer has the best possible access on most advantageous terms to international (oil and gas) markets,” said Jaishankar. “In that respect we have seen that India and Russia relationship has worked to advantage. So if it works to my advantage I would keep that going.”
The statement comes a month ahead of the US and its allies in the Group of Seven rich nations’ plan to take steps to prevent Russia from profiting from oil by putting a cap on prices. The external affairs minister said his presence in Moscow to review bilateral cooperation speaks volumes about India-Russia cooperation.
“The fact that I am here today with a delegation to review our cooperation speaks about India-Russia cooperation to see how we can take it forward to create a long-term and sustainable basis, says it all,” he said. Jaishankar further pointed out how for India, Russia has been a steady and time-tested partner.
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