Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba criticised India’s decision to purchase discounted Russian oil despite Ukraine being a reliable partner for India, saying each barrel has a “good portion of Ukrainian blood in it.”
Kuleba’s stinging remarks came just a day after Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar defended India’s decision to procure oil from Russia, saying that it is his “moral duty” to get the “best deal” for the country and “cushion the impact of the high energy prices.”
India doubled down on its continued relationship with Russia on Wednesday, when National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval touched down in Moscow to meet with his Russian counterpart Nikolai Patrushev.
Doval and Patrushev touched on several issues of regional and international concern and agreed to increase communication between their respective security councils. They also stressed on the progress made in Russia and India’s Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership.
Russia: National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval met with his Russian counterpart Nikolai Patrushev in Moscow, today. pic.twitter.com/B6dnmJrVLk
— ANI (@ANI) August 21, 2019
The pair reportedly also expressed their concern about the Afghan crisis’ impact on regional security. Furthermore, they discussed the need to counter terrorism, bolster defence cooperation, and protect food and energy security. In this regard, India raised the issue of maintaining and servicing Russian defence equipment.
The Indian government has not released any official statement about Doval’s visit; however, the pair are also reported to have talked about the need to expand economic relations by opening up routes in other countries like Iran, which is a part of the International North-South Transport Corridor.
Doval and Patrushev also touched on their interaction in multilateral institutions such as the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) and the United Nations General Assembly.
Breaking: Indian NSA Ajit Doval, Russian NSA Nikolai Patrushev meet in Russia. First picture: pic.twitter.com/dkzXtxPF7n
— Sidhant Sibal (@sidhant) August 17, 2022
The SCO, of which both India and Russia are members, is holding a two-day event in Uzbekistan that begins today. India will be represented by Deputy NSA Vikram Misri.
The meeting in Uzbekistan will provide the required impetus for next month’s summit in Samarkand. Iran and Belarus are predicted to be added as members of the China and Russia-led organisation. Moreover, India is scheduled to host the Organisation’s annual summit in Varanasi next year.
These developments come amid criticism about India’s continued relations with Russia despite international concern about its actions in Ukraine. Nevertheless, Russia remains a crucial supplier of defence equipment to India. Moreover, the two countries have expanded their energy cooperation since the Ukraine war began in February, with imports surging to 950,000 barrels per day in June, over 50 times the number in April. In May, Russia became India’s second-largest supplier of oil, overtaking Saudi Arabia.
🇷🇺🤝🇮🇳 On August 17 in Moscow, Secretary of the Security Council of the Russian Federation Nikolai Patrushev held talks with National Security Advisor to the Prime Minister of India Ajit Doval pic.twitter.com/tOaxiVlBSR
— Russia in India 🇷🇺 (@RusEmbIndia) August 17, 2022
Official sources cited by News 18 said that Ajit Doval is likely to leverage these ties to call for a ceasefire in Ukraine, which could help India earn “goodwill” with its European partners such as France and Germany.
This is not the first time India has been floated as a prospective mediator in the conflict.
In February, Ukraine’s then-ambassador to India, Igor Polikha, urged Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to help negotiate a ceasefire by using his clout and friendship with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Polikha said, “India should fully assume its global power. Modiji is a respected leader. India has a privileged partnership with Russia. Don’t know how many leaders Putin will listen to but it makes me believe that Modi’s powerful voice will make him listen.”
Likewise, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has said, “If Prime Minister Modi is willing to play that role (of a mediator), we will welcome his efforts.”