India’s plans to buy discounted crude oil from Russia not a violation of sanctions: White House

New Delhi: White House press secretary Jen Psaki on Wednesday said that India’s plans to purchase discounted crude oil from Russia will not lead to violation of sanctions. Our message to any country continues to be that abide by the sanctions that we have put in place and recommended… I don’t believe this would be violating that (sanctions).

Earlier this week, the US mounted pressure on China to not support Russia in its war on Ukraine. While India has not supported Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, New Delhi has abstained from voting against Moscow at the United Nations. PM Narendra Modi has, on multiple occasions, spoken to Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and urged both the leaders to resolve the crisis through dialogue.

Indian-American Congressman Ami Bera said that India’s decision to buy oil will mean that New Delhi would be siding with Russian President Vladimir Putin at a moment when the world is united in support of the Ukrainian people.

“If reports are accurate and India makes this decision to buy Russian oil at a discounted price, New Delhi would be choosing to side with Vladimir Putin at a pivotal moment in history when countries across the world are united in support of the Ukrainian people and against Russia’s deadly invasion,” he told the media.

(VINAYAK)