He said the war can only end through dialogue, diplomacy and negotiations. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Thursday said the Russia-Ukraine conflict cannot be resolved by countries simply stopping their purchases of Russian oil, minerals or other commodities.
Jaishankar said India has to consider the challenge of ensuring energy security for its 1.4 billion people, especially at a time when global energy conditions remain difficult. The remarks come after the US Senate last month passed a bipartisan bill that could allow President Donald Trump to impose tariffs of up to 100 per cent on goods from countries, including India and China, that continue importing Russian oil and gas. Under the proposed legislation, the US President would have the power to impose tariffs of up to 100 per cent on imports from the five largest buyers of Russian crude oil or natural gas.
He said India respects Ukraine’s position on the issue but also expects other countries to understand India’s concerns. US Presidential Counsellor Peter Navarro said President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi have a “very good working relationship” and would resolve issues related to tariffs and Russian oil. Speaking in Kyiv after meeting Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, Jaishankar was asked whether India would cut its Russian oil purchases if the US imposes sanctions on countries that continue buying Russian oil. India remains one of the biggest buyers of Russian crude, along with China. The bill also proposes sanctions against Russian President Vladimir Putin, senior political and military officials, financial institutions, energy projects and other entities linked to Russia’s war effort.
