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External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Thursday the 31st of March 2022 pointed to an international “campaign” on the issue of India purchasing Russian oil, even as UK Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said that India is a sovereign country and the UK is not going to tell it what to do on the issue.

Speaking at the First India-UK Strategic Futures Forum (IUSFF) Truss said that her own country is trying to reduce dependence on Russian oil by the end of the year.

In reply to a question on the UK’s reaction to reports that India is to purchase discounted Russian oil, she said: “Underlying the UK’s approach to sanctions we are looking to end dependence on Russian oil by the end of the year… we have a meeting of the G7 later this week, and it is very important that we respect other countries’ decisions about the issues that they face.

India is a sovereign nation; I am not going to tell India what to do… I feel very strongly on support for Ukraine, but that is not the same as going around and telling other countries what to do.”

Though the question was directed at the UK Minister, External Affairs Minister Jaishankar interjected to say that : “It is interesting; We’ve seen for sometime what looks like a campaign on this issue.”

He went on to cite a report that said that European countries had bought 15 percent more oil and gas from Russia in March, despite the sanctions, and that India’s own energy purchases were mostly from the Middle East and from the US.

“I was reading a report, that in the month of March Europe has bought 15 percent more oil and gas from Russia than it did the month before.

“If you look at the major buyers of oil and gas from Russia you will find most of them in Europe. We get the bulk of our energy supplies form the Middle East, 7.5 – 8 percent from the US and it was less than a percent from Russia earlier.”

Giving India’s position, he said: “When oil prices go up it is natural for countries to go out into the market and look for what are the good deals for their people.

“I am pretty sure if we wait two or three months, and actually look at who are the big buyers of Russian gas and oil, I suspect the list will not be very different from what it used to be and I suspect we won’t be on the top 10 on that list.”

The EAM’s remarks came as the US Deputy NSA Daleep Singh was in India to discuss India’s increasing energy imports from Russia amid the sanctions.

The US has been expressing its disapproval of India’s move to purchase Russian oil against payment in rupee-rouble terms.