Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Tuesday defended India’s decision to continue buying Russian oil, accusing the United States of trying to eliminate competition using the Ukraine conflict as a pretext. “Our Indian counterparts have already reacted to [this pressure] to stop buying oil from Russia. They proceed from the assumption [that] if the United States wants to sell something to India, including oil, India is ready to negotiate and discuss the terms and conditions. However, when it comes to trade with other countries, it is only for Russia and India to discuss,” Lavrov told reporters, as quoted by Sputnik India. Lavrov added that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar had spoken on the issue. “I believe that this stance reflects national interest and national pride and honour of our Indian friends,” he said.
Lavrov’s recent remarks are somewhat similar to what he said at the sidelines of UNGA held in New York, after meeting EAM Jaishankar. At the time, he had said that Russia fully respects India’s national interests and the “independent foreign policy” that PM Narendra Modi is pursuing, while also stressing India and Russia share a “particularly privileged strategic partnership”.“These situations that might arise between India and the US or India and any other country, I can’t consider them a criteria for relations between India and Russia,” he added addressing the media.Further talking about his expected visit he added, “We have full respect for the national interests of India, full respect for the foreign policy (PM) Narendra Modi is carrying out to promote these national interests,” added the minister, who is expected to visit India ahead of the India-Russia annual summit in December.”
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