External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar has again defended India’s increased purchases of Russian crude oil during a panel discussion at the Kultaranta Talks in Finland on Thursday, showing a mirror to European media and leaders present at the event.
Speaking alongside Finland’s Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen and UAE Assistant Foreign Minister Lana Nusseibeh on “Emerging Powers and the New Geopolitical Competition,” Jaishankar was asked about India’s energy choices amid the Western sanctions against Russia.
#WATCH | EAM Dr S Jaishankar says, "I buy oil based on cost and availability. So at that point of time, ah much of the oil available on the market was Russia because Europeans were essentially buying up the Middle East oil, which was our traditional supply. So circumstances… https://t.co/GqtIiLYbro pic.twitter.com/AZlslrCBHy
— ANI (@ANI) June 12, 2026
“I buy oil based on cost and availability,” he stated. “At that point, much of the oil available on the market was Russian because Europeans were essentially buying up the Middle East oil, which was our traditional supply. So circumstances pushed us in a certain direction.”
Addressing the “moral ambiguity” that the host had asked him about, Dr Jaishankar stated that no European country has been attacked with Indian weapons. “I wish I could say that for European weapons vis-a-vis India,” he added.
“Europeans sell weapons which are used to attack India… for many years. We Indians have never done anything to endanger Europe”, Dr Jaishankar reminded European leaders and media, who have been relentless in trying to corner India for buying Russian oil, despite their own continued purchase of Russian gas. He also stated that the US had specifically asked India to buy Russian oil to keep global prices steady.
Amid global shifts following the Russia-Ukraine conflict. India had become one of the largest buyers of discounted Russian oil, which now constitutes a significant portion of its imports. It has been helping stabilise domestic energy prices and even playing a major role in keeping global energy prices steady.
