Every country will try to get the best deal: Jaishankar justifying India's oil purchase from Russia

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By  IBNS    Aug 17, 2022

 

#India, #SJaishankar, #Russia, #OilPurchase, #Ukraine, #Bangkok, #RussiaUkraineWar

New Delhi/IBNS: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has responded to the criticism New Delhi faced for buying oil from Russia amid the Ukraine war stating every country will look to seize the best deal when the energy prices are high, media reports said.

Hitting back at the criticisms, Jaishankar, who was interacting with the Indian community in Bangkok, said, "Europe is buying much more from the Middle East and other sources who would have supplied India."

"This is the situation today where every country will try naturally to get the best deal possible for its citizens and try to cushion the impact of the high energy prices. That is exactly what we are doing," he added.

The External Affairs Minister defended India's move saying his "moral duty" is to ensure the "best deal" for his country.

"I have a country with a per capita income of $2000. These aren't the people who can afford higher energy prices.

"It is my obligation and moral duty to ensure that I get them the best deal that I can," Jaishankar added.

India has increased its oil purchase from Russia since Moscow invaded Kyiv back in February.