India will continue buying Russian oil despite Ukraine’s concerns, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said during his visit to Kyiv on Thursday, according to media reports.
Jaishankar said India’s energy requirements must be respected, stressing the challenges of supplying energy to 1.4 billion people amid a difficult global energy situation.
“I get that, but I think it’s very important that all of you get the challenges of providing for energy for 1.4 billion people,” he said, according to media reports.
The minister said India respected Ukraine’s position and expected its own perspective to be respected. He argued that the Russia-Ukraine war would not be resolved by decisions over oil, minerals or other commodities.
“This conflict will be solved by dialogue, by diplomacy, by negotiation,” Jaishankar said, according to media reports.
India has faced criticism from the US and European countries over its purchases of Russian crude since Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. New Delhi has maintained that securing affordable and reliable energy supplies is a key responsibility.
Jaishankar meets Zelenskyy in Kyiv
Jaishankar met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha during his visit. Discussions focused on efforts to end the war and strengthen India-Ukraine ties.
Jaishankar said he briefed Zelenskyy on his talks with Sybiha about expanding bilateral cooperation. Zelenskyy welcomed the meeting and thanked India for its position on the war.
According to media reports, Zelenskyy also said Russian forces launched jet-powered Shahed drones while the Indian delegation was in Kyiv. He claimed Ukrainian combat aviation and fighter jets intercepted most of them, keeping the delegation safe.
India has consistently called for an end to the conflict through dialogue and diplomacy, while maintaining its independent position on energy imports and relations with Moscow and Kyiv.
