Must Watch Video! EAM S Jaishankar schools West on India’s energy security at Kultaranta talks
Jun 12, 2026
Jun 12, 2026: Helsinki [Finland]: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has staunchly defended New Delhi's strategic energy choices, highlighting the inherent contradictions in Western criticism over India's procurement of Russian crude oil. The seasoned diplomat delivered these sharp remarks on Thursday while participating in a discussion on 'Emerging Powers and the New Geopolitical Competition' at the Kultaranta Talks in Finland. During the session, a journalist questioned India's position on the Russia-Ukraine conflict, accusing the nation of being "too sympathetic to Russia" and "too willing to buy oil from Russia". Responding firmly to the critique, Jaishankar articulated India's pragmatic approach to safeguarding its national interests. "I'll make two observations. I buy oil based on cost and availability. So at that point of time, much of the oil available in the market was Russian because Europeans were essentially buying oil from the Middle East, which was our traditional supplier. So circumstances pushed us in a certain direction," Jaishankar stated.
