India’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Vikram Doraiswami, strongly defended India’s continued oil imports from Russia, countering Western criticism by asserting that halting such imports would cripple the Indian economy.
In an interview with Times Radio, Doraiswami asked, “Do we switch off our economy?” in response to questions about India’s energy ties with Moscow, especially amid global sanctions following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
He pointed out the inconsistency in Western positions, noting that “many of our European partners continue buying rare earths and energy products from countries they expect us to avoid.” He added, “Don’t you think that seems a little odd?”
India, the world’s third-largest oil importer, has historically sourced crude oil from the Middle East. However, after the 2022 conflict and ensuing sanctions, Russia began offering steep discounts, prompting India to increase purchases significantly.
When asked about India’s relationship with Russia and Vladimir Putin, Doraiswami responded that the bilateral relationship is multifaceted and grounded in history. “Some of our Western partners refused to sell us weapons in the past while supplying countries in our neighborhood that used them against us,” he said.
Doraiswami also emphasized the impact of being edged out of traditional energy markets. “We used to buy from sources others now dominate. The cost has gone up. We import over 80% of our energy. What would you have us do?” he said.
He further noted that other countries continue maintaining strategic ties with states that pose challenges to India. “Do we ask you for a test of loyalty?” he asked pointedly.
On the broader issue of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Doraiswami reiterated that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has consistently urged for peace, stating that “this isn’t an era of war.” He noted that this message has been delivered to both President Putin and President Zelensky.
“We are very keen for this terrible conflict to stop—just as we are for conflicts elsewhere in the world to come to an end,” he added.
