Indian Foreign Minister: Washington did not ask us to stop buying Russian oil

Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar stated that the United States did not ask his country at any time to stop importing oil from Russia, before recently announcing tariffs on these imports.

Jaishankar said in a speech during the World Leaders Forum organized by the Economic Times that the American side did not raise this issue with New Delhi in any direct discussions.

He explained that India held talks in 2022, during the global oil price crisis, with officials in the U.S. administration, who confirmed at the time that India's purchase of Russian oil contributes to price stability and did not object to it.

The minister added that after last January, there have been no discussions with the current U.S. administration about stopping the purchase of oil from Russia, indicating that Washington's public stance has not been preceded by direct discussions with New Delhi.