Kyiv: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has rejected the argument that reducing India’s purchases of Russian oil would help bring an end to the Ukraine conflict, saying the war can only be resolved through dialogue, diplomacy and negotiations.
Speaking to the media during his official visit to Kyiv, Jaishankar said the conflict, now in its fifth year, would not be brought to an end by decisions on the purchase of oil, minerals, metals, fertilisers or other commodities.
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“This conflict, which is today in its fifth year, will not be solved because somebody is buying or not buying oil or alumina or minerals or metals or fertiliser. This conflict will be solved by dialogue, diplomacy, and negotiation,” Jaishankar said after meeting Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha.
Jaishankar also highlighted the challenge of ensuring energy security for India’s 1.4 billion people, particularly amid difficult conditions in global energy markets.
He said India respected Ukraine’s position on the issue but expected other countries to similarly recognise New Delhi’s concerns and priorities.
“I would say, I mean, this is something where clearly the Ukraine side has its perspective, which we respect, and we have ours, which I would expect others to also respect,” he said.
India has consistently maintained that the Ukraine conflict should be resolved through dialogue and diplomacy while defending its energy choices on the grounds of national energy security and the interests of its population.
