Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has recounted an incident where Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar delivered a robust response to European leaders, urging them to focus on their own affairs rather than questioning India’s alignment with Moscow amidst the conflict in Ukraine.
Speaking at the World Youth Forum in Sochi, Lavrov highlighted Jaishankar’s firm stance, describing him as a “friend.” Lavrov recalled Jaishankar’s inquiry into Europe’s oil purchases and emphasized India’s decision to procure crude oil from Russia as a matter of “national dignity.”
Lavrov’s remarks underscore the strength of Russo-Indian relations and India’s principled stance on maintaining sovereignty in its diplomatic engagements. Jaishankar’s response exemplifies India’s commitment to independent foreign policy decisions amidst global complexities.
“My friend, Foreign Minister Subramanyam Jaishankar, was once at the UN, giving a speech. He was asked why they started buying so much oil from Russia. He advised them to mind their own business and reminded them at the same time how much oil the West had started buying and continued to buy oil from the Russian Federation. This is national dignity,” Lavrov was quoted as saying by Sputnik news agency.
Lavrov’s statement came amid criticism in Europe against India that its procurement of Russian crude oil is detrimental to the effectiveness of the Western sanctions imposed on Moscow for its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
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