'Works To India's Advantage, Will Keep It Going': Jaishankar On Buying Russian Oil

EAM S Jaishankar, who arrived in Moscow on Monday as a part of his two-day visit to Russia, said India and Russia have an ''exceptionally' steady and time-tested relationship.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, who arrived in Moscow on Monday as a part of his two-day visit to Russia, said buying Russian oil was of advantage to India and it would continue doing that. Jaishankar made the remarks after he met his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov in Moscow.

Speaking on India's decision to import Russian crude oil amidst the Ukraine war, Jaishankar stated "We have seen that India-Russia relationship has worked to advantage so if it works to my advantage I would like to keep that going."

This is Jaishankar's first visit to Moscow after the beginning of the Ukraine conflict.

On the oil supply issue, Jaishankar said that there was stress on the energy market but it was government's duty to ensure that the Indian consumer has the best possible access on most advantageous terms to international market.

"As regard to oil supply issue, there is stress on the energy market... But as the world's 3rd largest consumer of oil and gas, it is our fundamental obligation to ensure that the Indian consumer have the best possible access on most advantageous terms to international market,"  news agency ANI quoted Jaishankar as saying.

Responding to a question on India's likely response to calls by West to cap Russian oil purchases, the minister said, "As the third-largest consumer of oil and gas and where incomes are not very high, we need to look for affordable sources, so the India-Russia relationship works to our advantage. We will keep it going."

In his opening remarks, Jaishankar said India and Russia had an "exceptionally" steady and time-tested relationship.

"India and Russia engage each other in an increasingly multi-polar and re-balanced world. We do so as two polities who have had an exceptionally steady and time-tested relationship. In that background, I look forward to our talks," he said.

The Foreign Minister also said that the Covid-19 pandemic, financial pressures and trade difficulties had taken a toll on the global economy.

"We are now seeing the consequences of the Ukraine conflict on top of that. There are also the more perennial issues of terrorism and climate change, both of which have a disruptive impact on progress and prosperity," he further said.