When India refused to budge on Russian oil imports

The US and India had yet another talk on Russia-Ukraine... but did India change its stance on Russian oil?

Transcript

00:00If you're looking at energy purchases from Russia, I would suggest that your attention

00:05should be focused on Europe.

00:07But I suspect looking at the figures, probably our total purchases for the month would be

00:13less than what Europe does in an afternoon.

00:16So you might want to think about it.

00:18The president also made clear that he does not believe it's in India's interest to

00:21accelerate or increase imports of Russian energy and other commodities.

00:30What would be your message to India or any other country tempted by such an offer?

00:50Our message to any country continues to be that, obviously, abide by the sanctions, but

00:56that we have put in place and recommended.

00:59I don't believe this would be violating that.

01:01But also think about where you want to stand when the history books are written in this

01:06moment in time and support for the Russian leadership is support for an invasion that

01:14obviously is having a devastating impact.

01:37We are against the conflict.

01:38We are for dialogue and diplomacy.

01:41We are for urgent cessation of violence.

01:46And we are prepared to contribute in whatever way to these objectives.

01:50I noticed you refer to oil purchases.

01:55If you are looking at energy purchases from Russia, I would suggest that your attention

02:00should be focused on Europe, which probably we do buy some energy, which is necessary

02:08for our energy security.

02:10But I suspect looking at the figures, probably our total purchases for the month would be

02:16less than what Europe does in an afternoon.

02:18Of course, we're encouraging countries not to purchase additional energy supplies from

02:26Russia.

02:27Every country is differently situated, has different needs, requirements.

02:32But we're looking to allies and partners not to increase their purchases of Russian energy.

02:38I think a big concern we have, and not just we, I think the world has, is of energy security,

02:44of rising prices, of increasing premiums, of limited supplies.

02:49So today you have to understand it is a legitimate concern of countries to ensure their energy

02:56security.