- Saturday, April 27, 2024
By: Shubham Ghosh
Ever since Russia invaded Ukraine, India’s foreign policy conduct has faced a challenge. While New Delhi has not condemned Moscow’s aggression and engaged in oil diplomacy with it, it has also provided humanitarian aid to Kyiv, including medicine. But it seems Ukraine is not yet convinced about India’s role in this global crisis and its foreign minister has even gone to the extent of saying that by buying crude oil from Russia, India was actually buying Ukrainian blood.
Both Ukraine and Russia have witnessed big casualties in the conflict which will turn seven months old in September.
Ukrainian foreign minister Dymitro Kuleba said in a virtual press conference on August 17 that Kyiv expected “more practical support” from New Delhi in its fight against Moscow. He said Ukraine has been one of India’s reliable partners but by buying crude oil from Moscow, India was in effect purchasing Ukrainian blood.
The diplomat’s strong views came as India continued to buy Russia’s crude to stabilise energy supply for its own economy.
“When India purchases Russian crude oil [at a discount], they have to understand that the discount has to be paid by Ukrainian blood. Every barrel of Russian crude that India gets, has a good portion of Ukrainian blood in it. We are friendly and open to India. I supported the evacuation of Indian students. We expected more practical support from India to Ukraine,” Kuleba said in response to a question from Indian daily The Hindu.
He also called India and Ukraine as two democracies that have essential similarities and that “two democracies have to stand by each other”.
Indian external affairs minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar has spoken on the issue unapologetically in the recent past saying India was not defensive in getting Russian oil.
“We have been very open and honest about our interest. I have a country with a per capita income of $2,000. These are not people who can afford higher energy prices. It is my obligation…moral duty to actually get them the best deal that I can get from the world,” he had said.
He also said that India was not trying to be “clever” in sourcing energy from several countries, including Russia, and called India’s position as a “direct” one, adding that the world accepted New Delhi’s stance as a reality.
