India’s total oil purchase from Russia in a month is probably less than what Europe does in an afternoon, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said after the conclusion of the 2+2 dialogue in the US on 11 April.

“I noticed you refer to oil purchases. If you are looking at energy purchases from Russia, I would suggest that your attention should be focused on Europe. We do buy some energy, which is necessary for our energy security. But I suspect looking at the figures, probably our total purchases for the month would be less than what Europe does in an afternoon,” Jaishankar told a reporter when asked about India’s oil purchase from Russia.

Jaishankar was addressing a joint news conference with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh along with their American counterparts Secretary of State Tony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, after the conclusion of the 2+2 ministerial.

Jaishankar said India has made a number of statements (on Russia-Ukraine war) which outline its position in the United Nations, in Indian Parliament, and in other forums. “And briefly, what those positions state is that we are against the conflict. We are for dialogue and diplomacy. We are for urgent cessation of violence, and we are prepared to contribute in whatever way to these objectives,” he asserted.

Jaishankar told reporters that now there is an expanding India-US energy relationship which didn’t exist some years ago. The United States is the second largest LNG supplier to India and the fourth or the fifth largest crude oil supplier. “A big partner in the renewables side,” he said.

Echoing Jaishankar, Blinken said the US energy exports to India now total about USD 11 billion a year. “Ultimately, the most effective way to satisfy this growth, the needs of the Indian people, the Indian economy, is of course to honour the climate goals, the ambitious climate goals that India has set, including particularly the expansion of renewables,” he said.

(With inputs from PTI)