UNITED NATIONS, July 18: Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov staunchly defended India’s sovereignty and right to determine its national interests and partnerships, criticizing what he described as unwarranted international pressure faced by New Delhi over its energy cooperation with Moscow.
Speaking at a press conference in New York, Lavrov addressed the controversy surrounding Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent visit to Moscow, emphasizing India’s status as a great power capable of making independent decisions.
“India is a great power that sets its own national interests, determines its own national interests, and chooses its own partners. And we know that India is being subject to enormous pressure, completely unjustified pressure in the international arena,” Lavrov asserted.
The Russian Foreign Minister’s comments come amidst criticism aimed at India for maintaining energy ties with Russia despite the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Lavrov also responded to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s criticism of Modi’s visit to Moscow, calling the remarks “insulting” and indicating that India had expressed its displeasure to Ukraine over the comments.
Lavrov highlighted that External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar had defended India’s stance during his recent visits to Western nations, stressing that India would continue to make decisions in its best interests regarding trade and energy procurement.
Regarding India’s oil purchases from Russia, Lavrov echoed Jaishankar’s earlier statements, emphasizing that India’s policies are driven by securing the best deals for its people across multiple energy sources.
In conclusion, Lavrov underscored the significance of respecting India’s sovereignty and its right to conduct foreign relations based on its national interests, particularly amidst global geopolitical pressures
