'Russia Has Never Hurt Our Interests': Jaishankar Defends India's Ties With Moscow Amid Western Pressure Over Ukraine War

India and Russia enjoy a "stable and very friendly" relationship, and Moscow has "never hurt our interests," External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has stated in an interview with the German daily Handelsblatt.

He defended the long-standing ties between the two nations amidst Western efforts to end the conflict in Ukraine.

His remarks came amid speculations that India might play a role in resolving the violence in Ukraine, highlighted by a December report from United States intelligence suggesting over 70,000 casualties, both civilian and military.

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"Everyone conducts a relationship based on past experiences. If I look at the history of post-independence India, Russia has never hurt our interests. We have always had a stable and very friendly relationship... and our relationship with Moscow today is based on this experience," Jaishankar said.

The India-Russia relationship has faced scrutiny since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, leading to Western military aid for Kyiv and financial sanctions against Russia, including on the purchase of Russian crude oil.

Despite this, India has continued to import Russian oil, securing significant discounts to support its economy.

In Munich for a security conference, Jaishankar told Handelsblatt that, given the current circumstances, India sees no alternative to purchasing Russian crude oil. He has consistently defended India's position on this matter.

He also highlighted the impact of sanctions on Russia, noting that wealthier Western countries could afford to source oil from Middle Eastern suppliers at higher prices, whereas India's continued purchases from Russia have helped stabilise international oil prices.

"If no one bought crude oil from Russia, and everyone bought crude oil from other countries, the prices on the energy market would have shot up even further," he told the German publication.

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