Russia Decries ‘Enormous Pressure’ On India Because Of Relations With Moscow. Russia has put the spotlight on the West trying to intimidate India because of New Delhi’s energy cooperation and relations with Moscow. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said this is ‘completely unjustified’.
Describing India as a great power, he said New Delhi sets its national interests, and chooses its partners. Lavrov highlighted that India is being subjected to enormous pressure and this is completely unjustified pressure in the international arena.
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India drew criticism from its West counterparts following Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s official visit to Russia for the 22nd India-Russia Annual Summit. Modi was honored with Russia’s highest civilian honor – Order of Saint Andrew the Apostle.
India Not the Only Country Buying More Russian Oil
The Russian FM highlighted Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar statement that India was not the only country buying more oil from Russia. He said Western countries had also increased their purchases of gas and oil from Russia despite various sanctions.
According to Energy and Clean Air, China bought 47 percent of Russia’s crude exports, followed by India at 35 percent, the EU at seven percent, and Turkey 6 percent. EU is the largest buyer of Russian LNG at 50 percent, followed by China at 20 percent, and Japan at 18 percent. Moreover, the EU was the largest buyer of Russia’s pipeline gas at 39 percent.
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It should be noted that the EU has exempted Russian crude oil import if it’s imported through the southern branch of the Druzhba pipeline to Slovakia, Czech Republic, and Hungary. EU member states can continue to buy Russian fossil fuels because of sanction exemptions.
India-Russia Strengthen Relations
India’s cooperation in the Russian Far East increased since 2019. Both countries agreed to cooperate in trading and investing in this project from 2024 to 2029 in agriculture, energy, mining, manpower, diamonds, pharmaceuticals, and maritime transport.
India and Russia have also enhanced their economic partnership. Moreover, India’s increased interest in Russia is reflected in its two consulates in Ekaterinburg and Kazan, as well as the increasing Indian diaspora.
