In Moscow, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov reviewed bilateral ties and discussed the upcoming annual summit. Jaishankar underscored the consistent relationship between India and Russia since the Second World War, emphasizing the need for sustained energy cooperation via trade and investments. He also addressed the topic of India’s oil imports from Russia during a press conference. Jaishankar stated that India is not the primary purchaser of Russian oil, clarifying that China holds that position. Additionally, he mentioned that the European Union is the biggest buyer of Russian LNG. He asserted that India’s energy purchases are driven by national interests and international considerations, noting that even the United States has endorsed stabilizing global energy markets, including the procurement of oil from Russia.
Jaishankar pointed out that India has increased its oil imports from the US and expressed bewilderment at the criticism surrounding India’s purchases. The leaders also discussed the situations in Ukraine, West Asia, the Middle East, and Afghanistan, with Jaishankar reiterating India’s commitment to dialogue and diplomacy. The two leaders also discussed increasing trade in a balanced way, including increasing India’s exports to Russia. Jaishankar is currently in Russia for a three-day visit, where he will participate in the IRIGC-TEC meeting and the India-Russia Business Forum.