Ignoring the warnings from the US amid the Russia-Ukraine war, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has said that India will buy more crude oil from Russia. The Finance Minister said that the process of buying more oil from Moscow has been started. In response to the question asked about the purchase of oil from Russia, the Finance Minister said that when we are getting oil at a discount rate, why not buy it? She said that I give priority to the interest of the nation and its needs. We have started buying oil from Moscow. If we will be offered crude oil at a low price, then why will we not buy it, which will benefit the people of our country.
Significantly, the US has imposed many economic sanctions on Russia, which is waging war against Ukraine. Fearing America, many countries of the world have closed their trade with Russia. This is the reason that Russia, which has been fighting a war for about forty days, is facing economic crisis from all sides. India has come forward to help Russia in this hour of crisis. India is buying large quantities of crude oil from Russia at huge discounts, which America is eyeing.
The US had warned India recently that buying more oil from Russia could cost New Delhi dearly. In fact, America is preparing to impose more stringent economic sanctions on Russia. At present, the US has not prohibited other countries from buying oil from Russia, but it is keeping an eye on countries buying more oil at cheaper prices. India is buying large quantities of crude oil from Russia. Last year, India bought 16 million barrels of oil from Russia, but till March this year, India has bought 13 million barrels of oil from Russia.
This was the reason that the Foreign Minister of Russia came to New Delhi on a two-day visit after the visit to China. Chinese Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said that no pressure will work on India-Russia friendship. He also said that India and Russia have always stood by each other in difficult times.