'On, Off, On, Off': Jaishankar Calls Out US Double Standards on Russian Oil
- Jun 12
- 3 min read
Jaishankar says India buys oil based on affordability and availability, criticising Western nations for inconsistent policies on Russia.
By Pranjal Gupta
New Delhi, June 12: External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar criticised the United Nations' "on and off" approach towards the countries buying oil from Russia, saying, "let's not pretend that there is some great principle involved here." Speaking at the Kultaranta Talks in Finland on Thursday, Jishankar highlighted that US pressurised India last year against buying oil from Russia who is at war with Ukraine since 2023. Later, the US encouraged that India should buy Russian oil "to stabilise the world markets"
"They do it when it suits them and don't do it when it doesn't," he said while responding to questions about India's energy ties with Russia.
Why India Turned to Russian Oil
Jaishankar explained that India was not a major buyer of Russian oil before the Russia-Ukraine conflict began in 2022. However, the war disrupted global energy markets and forced India to look for alternative and affordable supplies.
According to him, European countries began purchasing more oil from the Middle East, which had traditionally been India's main source of crude. As a result, India turned towards Russia, where oil was readily available at competitive prices.
"I buy oil based on cost and availability," Jaishankar said. "Circumstances pushed us in a certain direction."
He added that Russian suppliers had consistently delivered cargoes and remained reliable partners during a period of uncertainty in global energy markets.
'US Asked India to Buy Russian Oil'
Jaishankar also recalled that the United States had encouraged India to continue buying Russian oil after sanctions were imposed on Moscow.
According to him, Washington recognised that keeping Russian oil flowing into global markets was necessary to prevent a major spike in energy prices.
"I do want people to remember this. At that time, the US specifically asked India to buy Russian oil to stabilise the world markets," he said.
The minister argued that this episode demonstrated how geopolitical positions often change according to practical needs.
'On, Off, On, Off'
Jaishankar highlighted what he called inconsistencies in the US approach. He noted that Washington had imposed tariffs and restrictions related to Russian oil at one stage but later eased some of those measures.
"Let's not pretend that there is some great principle involved here. If it is on, off, on, off, and do it when it suits us and don't do it when it doesn't, come on, we are all adults in the room, we know what the game is," he remarked.
He also rejected what he described as moral lectures from countries whose policies change according to strategic requirements.
Energy Security Comes First
Jaishankar stressed that India's energy policy is driven by national interest, affordability and energy security rather than political alignments.
He said Russia currently supplies nearly 40 per cent of India's crude oil imports. At the same time, the United States has emerged as India's largest supplier of natural gas, replacing Qatar earlier this year.
According to him, these changes show that countries across the world are diversifying their energy sources and reducing dependence on any single region.
"The world is de-risking," he said, adding that nations are increasingly seeking alternative suppliers to protect themselves from geopolitical disruptions.
Renewed Pressure From Washington
Jaishankar's remarks come at a time when the United States has once again increased pressure on countries buying Russian energy.
Last week, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the Trump administration wanted to end sanctions waivers and special arrangements that have allowed countries such as India to continue importing Russian oil.
Since the start of the Ukraine war, Washington and its allies have alternated between criticising India's purchases of discounted Russian crude and quietly accepting them to avoid a global supply crisis.
While Western governments argue that continued purchases help finance Russia's war effort, India maintains that energy procurement is a sovereign decision based on economic and security needs.
Petroleum Ministry Joint Secretary Sujata Sharma recently reiterated that India has continued buying Russian oil before, during and after any waiver arrangements, underscoring New Delhi's consistent position.
