Finland supports India’s Russian oil purchases amid Western criticism.

Jaishankar defends India’s energy choices, highlighting pragmatism and Western double standards.

India’s continued imports of Russian oil have drawn sharp international debate, but in a surprising turn, Finland’s Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen publicly defended New Delhi’s position. Speaking at the Kultaranta Talks in Finland, Valtonen emphasized that India’s purchases complied with the Western oil price cap mechanism introduced after Russia invaded Ukraine. She clarified that the cap was never intended to halt global trade in Russian crude, but rather to restrict Moscow’s profits while ensuring stability in global energy markets.

Valtonen stated, “India has bought oil under the price cap. That was the intention. The idea was not to disrupt supply but to prevent Russia from making excessive margins.” Her remarks provided India with rare European support at a time when its energy policy has faced scrutiny.

During the same panel, India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar defended New Delhi’s decisions. He explained that India’s oil imports are guided by cost and availability, not political alignments. Following sanctions in 2022, European nations absorbed much of the Middle Eastern supply, leaving Russia as a practical option for India. “Circumstances pushed us in a certain direction,” Jaishankar noted, adding that the United States had even encouraged India to buy Russian oil to stabilize markets.

Jaishankar also delivered one of his sharpest rebukes to European criticism, pointing out inconsistencies in Western positions. He reminded the audience that European countries have long sold weapons used against India, while New Delhi has never taken actions that endangered Europe. His remarks underscored India’s frustration with what it perceives as selective moral judgments from the West.

Highlighting India’s evolving energy landscape, Jaishankar revealed that Russia has become India’s largest oil supplier, while the United States recently overtook Qatar as its biggest gas provider. He stressed that India’s ties with the Gulf extend beyond oil, reflecting a deliberate diversification of energy sources.

Valtonen’s intervention strengthens India’s argument that its Russian oil imports remain within the framework set by Western nations themselves. Meanwhile, Jaishankar’s firm stance signals India’s determination to pursue a pragmatic energy policy, resisting external pressure and exposing contradictions in Western narratives.