Indian High Commissioner to the UK, Vikram Doraiswami, has strongly defended India’s purchase of discounted Russian oil, rejecting Western criticism and calling the stance of some European nations “odd and inconsistent.”
Speaking to Times Radio in London last week, Doraiswami emphasized that India, the world’s third-largest oil importer, cannot simply “switch off” its economy, pointing out that Western countries themselves continue to import rare earth materials and energy products from nations they are urging others to avoid.
“Don’t you think that that seems a little odd?” he remarked, highlighting that India imports more than 80% of its energy requirements and had to find alternate sources after being displaced from traditional Middle Eastern suppliers due to market disruptions caused by the Ukraine conflict.
“We are the third-largest consumer of energy in the world. What would you have us do? Switch off our economy?” he said.
Addressing questions about India’s ties with Moscow, Doraiswami explained that the relationship is built on long-standing defence and energy cooperation.
“Some of our Western partners wouldn’t sell us weapons in the past but were ready to sell them to our neighbours, who used them against us. That history shapes today’s partnerships,” he added.
He further stated that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has consistently urged both Russia and Ukraine to end the war, reiterating that “this isn’t an era of war.”
India began importing large volumes of Russian oil after Moscow offered steep discounts, following sanctions imposed by Western countries after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
Doraiswami concluded by noting that India seeks peace worldwide but will continue to protect its economic and energy security interests.
