New Delhi: Russia’s foreign affairs minister Sergey Lavrov has praised External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar for his bold retort against the West in UN with once asking them ‘to mind their own businesses.
Pulling no punches, S Jaishankar reacted when he was questioned over India’s buying of Russian oil after the Ukraine war began.
Russian news agency Sputnik shared a video of Sergey Lavrov recalling the incident at the World Youth Forum in Sochi, saying Jaishanaker advised the West to mind their own business.
‘My friend, Foreign Minister Subramanyam Jaishankar, was once at the UN, giving a speech. He was asked why they started buying so much oil from Russia. He advised them to mind their own business and reminded them at the same time how much oil the West had started buying and continued to buy oil from the Russian Federation. This is national dignity,’ he was quoted as saying.
When the West imposed sanctions on Russia refusing to buy Russian oil after Ukraine war broke out, India did not fall in line with them.
Dr Jaishankar stood up to the West stressing that India could not afford high energy prices, adding Indian government was looking forward to get the best deal.
Driving home the message further, he accused Europe of ‘double standards’ and asked them to discard the mindset that Europe's problems are the world's problems but not the other way round.
When questioned about buying Russian oil again in Munich recently, Dr Jaishankar replied ‘Why should it be a problem? I am smart enough to have multiple options. You should be admiring and not criticising. Is it a problem for others? I do not think so.’
Dr Jaishankar made the statement while US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock were beside him.
Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin earlier praised India saying that Russia can depend on India and its leadership, adding ‘because it is assured that New Delhi won't play 'games' against them on the international stage’.