This is national dignity: Russia praises S Jaishankar's rebuttal to West's criticism | VIDEO

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov commended India's External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar for his firm rebuttal to Western inquiries regarding India's oil purchases from Moscow amidst the conflict in Ukraine.

Asserting national dignity? Jaishankar's response to West's criticism

Speaking at the World Youth Forum in Sochi, Russia, Lavrov highlighted Jaishankar's robust defense of India's alignment with Moscow amid global scrutiny. Lavrov recalled Jaishankar's retort to European leaders, urging them to focus on their own affairs and emphasizing that India's oil procurement from Russia reflects its national dignity.

Lavrov underscored Jaishankar's stance, stating, "This is national dignity," as reported by Sputnik news agency.

🇮🇳🇷🇺 Russian FM recalls words of 'amigo' Jaishankar, who advised Europeans to look at themselves before lecturing others

🗯 "My friend, Foreign Minister Subramanyam Jaishankar, was once at the UN, giving a speech. He was asked why they started buying so much oil from Russia. He… pic.twitter.com/nD4C0YHMDj

— Sputnik India (@Sputnik_India) March 4, 2024

India's strategic oil purchases

India's increased oil imports from Russia have drawn criticism from European nations, challenging the effectiveness of Western sanctions against Moscow. Despite geopolitical tensions arising from Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, India significantly augmented its oil purchases from Russia.

In a strategic shift, India's oil imports from Russia surged from zero in January 2022 to 1.27 million barrels per day by January 2023. Throughout 2023, India's oil imports from Russia continued to rise, reaching 1.79 million barrels per day, making Russia the principal supplier.

Jaishankar's diplomatic defense

In an interview with German economic daily Handelsblatt, Jaishankar defended India's deepened economic ties with Russia amid global criticism. He emphasized that Russia had not compromised India's interests and that bilateral relations remained stable and amicable.

Jaishankar elaborated on India's energy procurement strategy, highlighting the country's necessity to secure energy resources amidst shifting global dynamics. He emphasized India's ability to navigate diverse options in securing energy supplies, ensuring stability in the energy market.

Diplomatic discourse at Munich Security Conference

During a panel discussion at the Munich Security Conference, Jaishankar reiterated India's prerogative to diversify its energy sources. He emphasized India's adeptness in managing multiple options to meet its energy needs, underscoring the country's diplomatic acumen.

Jaishankar's response garnered acknowledgment from global counterparts, including US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and German Foreign Affairs Minister Annalena Baerbock, signifying India's diplomatic assertiveness on the world stage.