Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi, Mar 16: The US has said that India buying inexpensive Russian oil would not violate the US sanctions, but such a decision would put the world’s largest democracy on the “wrong side of history.”
When asked about reports that India is considering a Russian offer to buy crude oil and other commodities at a discount a week after the US banned all Russian energy imports, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said the message from the Joe Biden administration is for countries to follow US sanctions.
“I don’t believe this would be violating that, but also think about where you want to stand,” Psaki said.
“When the history books are written at this moment in time, support for Russia – the Russian leadership – is support for an invasion that obviously is having a devastating impact,” she added.
India has not criticised Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and has abstained from voting at the United Nations calling out Russia’s aggression. In recent weeks, US officials have stated that they want India to remove itself as much as possible from Russia, while also acknowledging India’s strong reliance on Moscow for everything from weaponry and ammunition to missiles and fighter jets.
According to media sources, India’s largest refiner, Indian Oil Corp, bought 3 million barrels of Russian crude oil on Monday, marking the first such transaction since Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24.
India, the world’s third-largest oil consumer and importer, is one of the few countries that has not condemned Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. India imports 80% of its oil, but only approximately 2% to 3% of that comes from Russia.
