External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar strongly defended India’s energy policy during his visit to Moscow on Thursday (August 21, 2025), saying New Delhi was only following advice given by the United States itself.
“We are a country where the Americans have said for the last few years that we should do everything to stabilise the world energy market, including buying oil from Russia. Incidentally, we also buy oil from the U.S., and that amount has increased. So honestly, we are very perplexed at the logic of the argument,” Mr. Jaishankar said. His comments came as India faces additional tariffs imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump over its growing energy trade with Russia.
During the day, Mr. Jaishankar met Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss overall ties. He also held talks with Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, where he described India-Russia relations as “among the steadiest of the major relationships in the world after the Second World War.”
The talks with Mr. Lavrov covered a wide range of issues. India pushed for better connectivity through overland and marine routes such as the International North-South Transport Corridor and the Chennai-Vladivostok marine link. Mr. Jaishankar also said India wants to boost exports of pharmaceuticals, agriculture, and textiles to correct the trade imbalance with Russia.
He announced that two new Indian consulates will be opened in Kazan and Yekaterinburg to improve people-to-people ties and support manpower recruitment for Russian industries.
At the same time, he raised concerns about Indians who were fraudulently recruited by trafficking agents to fight in Ukraine, urging Russia to resolve the matter quickly.
The two ministers also reviewed cooperation in global platforms such as BRICS, the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), and the United Nations. They exchanged views on major international issues including Ukraine, the Israel-Palestine conflict, and Afghanistan, where Moscow recently gave de facto recognition to the Taliban administration.
Mr. Jaishankar’s visit began on Wednesday with a meeting with First Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov during the 26th India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission session.
Here, he underlined the need to strengthen economic corridors across Eurasia, including the Northern Sea Route, to reduce transport time and expand trade.
With Washington’s penalties creating new uncertainties, New Delhi’s Moscow outreach highlights India’s effort to balance relations with both the United States and Russia while protecting its own energy security and trade interests.
