I urged it to diversify energy sources.. Washington: India’s import of Russian oil is not a violation of sanctions against Moscow | News

US President Joe Biden and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi discussed the Ukraine-Russia crisis, during a virtual meeting on Monday, with the two sides differing in their positions.

US officials said President Biden told Modi that buying more Russian oil was not in India’s interest and could derail the US response to the war in Ukraine.

But White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki stressed that India is not violating US sanctions by continuing to import energy from Russia.

Psaki said during the daily briefing of the White House that President Biden offered, during his call to the Indian Prime Minister, to help his country in diversifying its energy sources, and told him that strengthening India’s position at the international level would not be achieved by relying on Russian energy sources.

During hour-long video chats that US officials described as “warm” and “candid”, the two sides expressed growing concern about the devastation inside Ukraine, particularly in Bucha, where many civilians have been killed.

An official said Biden stopped short of making an “explicit request” to Modi, noting that India had concerns about strengthening relations between Russia and China.

Expanded talks between the world’s two largest democracies took place as the United States sought more help from India to put economic pressure on Russia over its war in Ukraine.

During the meeting, Modi said, “Recently, the news of the killing of innocent civilians in Bucha City was very worrying. We immediately condemned it and demanded an independent investigation.”

Modi indicated that during his recent talks with Russia, he suggested that Russian President Vladimir Putin hold direct talks with his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky.

India has tried to balance its relations with Russia and the West, but unlike other members of the Quartet Security Dialogue, which also includes the United States, Japan and Australia, it has not imposed sanctions on Russia.

India has bought at least 13 million barrels of Russian crude oil since the invasion of Ukraine in late February, tempted by deep cuts in the wake of Western sanctions on Russian entities.

Also today, talks were held in Washington between the US Secretary of State and Defense with their Indian counterparts.