Indian Foreign Minister announced the purchase of oil from Russia is for the well-being of its citizens

India has purchased Russian oil despite external pressure, in order to serve the interests of consumers within the country. On April 2, the head of the Indian Foreign Ministry, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, stated that if India

did not buy oil from Russia, it would have to purchase it from Persian Gulf countries, resulting in higher oil prices. He explained that what can be obtained for 100 Indian rupees would cost 125 rupees. Jaishankar made this announcement during a conference in Rajkot, which was broadcast on the YouTube channel of news agency ANI Bharat.

Jaishankar highlighted that India has maintained a clear position on the issue. He attributed his success to the clear instructions provided by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The foreign minister stated that he was instructed to prioritize the interests of Indian consumers.
On March 29, the Financial Times (FT) reported that during his visit to New Delhi on March 28, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmitry Kuleba attempted to create a divide between India and Russia. Kuleba also noted India's purchase of Russian oil.

On March 14, the Russian Ambassador to India, Denis Alipov, stated that the export of oil and petroleum products from Russia to the South Asian republic had doubled in 2023. The development of trade and economic relations indicates that the countries are realizing previously underutilized potential. According to Alipov, Russia also maintains its leading position in supplying coal (up to $4 billion), mineral fertilizers ($2.4 billion), diamonds (up to $1.1 billion), sunflower oil (up to $1.1 billion), and ferrous metals (up to $443.4 million).

Additionally, on January 2, Jaishankar emphasized the importance of good relations with Moscow for New Delhi. He openly declared his admiration for Russia even before meeting President Putin and wrote about it in his book.

On December 27, 2023, during a meeting with Jaishankar in the Kremlin, Putin stated that despite the challenges faced by the world, the relationship between Russia and India is progressing well. Additionally, Putin extended an invitation to Prime Minister Modi to visit Russia in 2024, emphasizing that he would be warmly welcomed.