'Less Than What Europe Does In An Afternoon': EAM S Jaishankar On Russian Oil Deal

Union Minister of External Affairs Subrahmanyam Jaishankar said Monday that India's total purchase of oil from Russia in a month is probably less than what Europe does in an afternoon.

Union Minister of External Affairs Subrahmanyam Jaishankar | Credit: Getty Images

New Delhi: Union Minister of External Affairs Subrahmanyam Jaishankar said Monday that India's total purchase of oil from Russia in a month is probably less than what Europe does in an afternoon. His statement came in response to a reporter who had asked him about India's oil purchase from Russia.

"I noticed you refer to oil purchases. If you are looking at energy purchases from Russia, I would suggest that your attention should be focused on Europe. We do buy some energy, which is necessary for our energy security. But I suspect looking at the figures, probably our total purchases for the month would be less than what Europe does in an afternoon," news agency PTI quoted Jaishankar as saying. 

According to a PTI report, Jaishankar was addressing a joint news conference with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh along with their American counterparts Secretary of State Tony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin. This happened after the conclusion of the 2+2 ministerial dialogue on April 11, 2022. 

India has made a number of statements which outline its position in the United Nations, in Indian Parliament, and in other forums, Jaishankar said.

"And briefly, what those positions state is that we are against the conflict. We are for dialogue and diplomacy. We are for urgent cessation of violence, and we are prepared to contribute in whatever way to these objectives," the report quoted Jaishankar as saying. 

The White House had also come to India's defence on the issue of oil purchase. It noted that India’s total purchase is less than one to two per cent, while that of the United States is 10 per cent.

"Did the President get a commitment from Prime Minister Modi not to accelerate or increase imports of Russian energy?", White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki was asked during her daily news conference.

"I'll let Prime Minister Modi and the Indians speak to that. Again, it's 1 to 2 per cent at this point in time. They import 10 per cent from the United States. It is not a violation of any sanctions or anything along those lines. It was a constructive, direct conversation. But I will let them speak for themselves," Jen Psaki said. 

President Joe Biden, during the virtual summit earlier in the day, conveyed that the United States is here to help India to diversify their means of importing oil.

"The imports from the United States are already significant -- or much bigger than the imports that they get from Russia. And we, of course -- the President conveyed very clearly that it is not in their interest to increase that. But beyond that, I would let the Indian leaders speak for themselves," Psaki said.

She told reporters that India is not violating any sanctions by importing oil. "It's a decision we made from the United States, but we also recognize different countries have their own calculations," Psaki said. She also praised Indian efforts in Ukraine.

"What India has done to date is they have condemned the killings of civilians in Bucha. They have supported, they've supported calls for an independent investigation. They've provided over 90 tons of humanitarian relief material to Ukraine and its neighbours to include medicine and other essential relief. Earlier in the conflict, they also used its resources to evacuate almost 150 foreign nationals for 18 different countries," the report quoted Psaki as saying.

Now, there is an expanding India-US energy relationship which did not exist some years ago, Jaishankar told reporters. The United States is the second largest Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) supplier to India and the fourth or the fifth largest crude oil supplier. "A big partner in the renewables side," Jaishankar said.