India's Foreign Minister: The US Never Asked Us to Halt Russian Oil Purchases

India's External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar has stated that the United States has never approached India to request a halt to the purchase of Russian oil, prior to the official announcement regarding the imposition of high tariffs.

The Minister pointed out that during the rise in global oil prices in 2022, different assessments were made within the US administration. "At that time, we were told that if India continued to buy Russian oil, it would be beneficial for the US as it helps stabilize prices. There have been no discussions with representatives of the current administration since January," said the minister.

Jaishankar emphasized that India's purchases of Russian oil align with both the country's national interests and the global stability of markets. "Yes, it is in our interest, and we have never hidden that. But it's also in the world's interest. Imposing tariffs on a country for something it has done openly and continues to do at lower volumes than many others is considered unfair and unjustified," he stressed.

It should be noted that on August 6, the US raised import tariffs from India by 25 percent, citing reasons related to the purchase of Russian oil and petroleum products. Former US President Donald Trump had previously criticized India for its substantial military purchases from Russia and for remaining one of the largest buyers of Russian energy resources alongside China. In New Delhi, these accusations have been termed baseless.