India must decide on Russian-Ukrainian crisis on its own: US says

Photo Source: By https://www.pmindia.gov.in/en/image-gallery

It has been reported that the White House did not request any action from India in relation to energy imports from Russia. It stated that the United States supports India making its own judgments on the issue of how to resolve the Russia-Ukraine crisis.

A senior administration official described their hourlong virtual summit on Monday as "warm and productive," as Joe Biden and Narendra Modi engaged in a "very candid conversation" about the Russia-Ukraine crisis.

Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in late February, India has purchased at least 13 million barrels of discounted Russian crude oil. According to Washington, these imports only make up 1 to 2 percent of India's total energy imports.

“We haven’t asked India to do anything in particular; we’re having a very open conversation. We know that not all countries will be able to do what we’ve done,” the official said.

“We’ve been very clear that we’ve been able to ban oil and [liquefied natural gas] and coal imports from Russia, but other countries have to make their own choices,” the official said.

“That said, we don’t think India should accelerate or increase imports of Russian energy. And the U.S. is ready to support India, remain in a conversation with India about its diversification of imports,” the official added.

12 April 2022