Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has called the “enormous pressure” on New Delhi because of its energy cooperation with Moscow “completely unjustified,” arguing that India is a big country that chooses its partners and defines its national interests.
Lavrov also called Ukraine’s comments about the recent meeting between President Vladimir Putin and Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Moscow “insulting” during a press conference held here on Wednesday.
“I believe that India is a powerful nation that picks its own partners and establishes its own national objectives. And we are aware that India is facing tremendous pressure in the international arena—pressure that is wholly unwarranted,” Lavrov stated.
Lavrov was answering a query concerning Prime Minister Modi’s most recent trip to Moscow and the criticism India has received for its energy partnership with Russia. Lavrov is in New York to preside over meetings of the UN Security Council, which is being held under Russia’s July presidency.
At the request of Russian President Vladimir Putin, Prime Minister Modi traveled to Russia for the 22nd India-Russia Annual Summit on July 8–9. Modi visited Russia for the first time since the situation in Ukraine began.
India has continuously advocated for a diplomatic and dialogue-based settlement of the crisis and has not yet denounced Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
Modi’s trip to Moscow has also drawn criticism from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who wrote on X that “A Russian missile struck the largest children’s hospital in Ukraine, targeting young cancer patients.” Numerous people were buried beneath the debris.
“Seeing the head of the largest democracy in the world is a huge disappointment and a devastating blow to peace efforts.”
India had expressed its disapproval of the comments to Kyiv. It was reported that Ukraine’s envoy in Delhi was informed of India’s displeasure with Zelenskyy’s remarks.
Zelenskyy’s remarks that Modi’s visit to Russia was “a stabbing in the back of all peace efforts” were cited by Lavrov as “so that was very insulting and the Ukrainian ambassador was called in” and the Indian Ministry of External Affairs “talked to him about how he should be behaving.”
After hearing several other Ukrainian envoys say, “The ambassadors were really behaving as if they were hooligans,” he said.
“So I think India is doing everything right,” he stated. After visiting Western countries, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar responded to inquiries, including one regarding why India was increasing its oil purchases from Russia, according to Lavrov. According to Lavrov, Jaishankar provided data indicating that, in spite of some of the limits put in place, the West has also boosted its purchases of gas and oil from Russia.
Lavrov stated that Jaishankar “went on to say that India will decide for itself how to trade with whom and how to defend its national interests.”
However, the fact that the West is expressing its disapproval of nations like China and India demonstrates their ignorance, their incapacity to engage in diplomatic activities, and also highlights their failure.
Regarding India’s oil purchases from Russia, Jaishankar previously stated that it is his responsibility to prioritize the interests of the Indian people and make sure they do not bear the financial burden of decisions made by other nations or regions regarding fertilizer, food, etc.
“We don’t only purchase oil from one nation. We purchase oil from a variety of suppliers, but it makes sense to choose the one that offers the best value for the Indian people, and that is precisely what we are attempting to do,” Jaishankar stated.
