In 2022, EAM Jaishankar defended discounted oil imports from Russia. Here's why...
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00:00I would very respectfully suggest maybe European Union is actually doing something very much
00:05more than India is doing at this point of time.
00:07I think my own sense is most governments in the world, European governments get it.
01:00Yes, Shankar, India has extended the import of Russian oil.
01:10It is a totally opposite position of the European sanctions.
01:16Will you change your attitude during the G20 presidency?
01:23On your question about fossil fuel imports from Russia, you know, I think first we need
01:30to establish the facts very clearly.
01:34The European Union between February 24th and 17th November has imported more fossil fuel
01:44from Russia than the next 10 countries combined.
01:50Just as I were to give you an India comparison, the oil import in European Union is like six
01:57times what India has imported, gas is infinity times because we don't import, whereas European
02:04Union has imported 50 billion dollars worth, 50 billion euros worth.
02:11Even coal imports from Russia by European Union, I'm not singling any particular country,
02:17is 50% more than India has imported.
02:20So, the remark that you made that, you know, this is the way the European Union is going
02:26and this is the way India is going, I would very respectfully suggest maybe European Union
02:31is actually doing something very much more than India is doing at this point of time.
02:36Having said that, look, I think we need to have an understanding among governments and
02:42frankly even within the media, there is a finite amount of energy resources available
02:48in the world.
02:50I understand there is a conflict situation, I also understand Europe has a point of view
02:56and Europe will make the choices it will make, that is Europe's right, but for Europe to
03:02make choices which prioritizes its energy needs and then ask India to do something else
03:09and bear in mind today Europe is buying a lot from the Middle East.
03:13Now Middle East was traditionally a supplier for an economy like India, so it puts pressure
03:18on prices in the Middle East as well.
03:21So, we have been very, very understanding of European choices and European policies.
03:27I think my own sense is most governments in the world, European governments get it.
03:33I wish European media also got it, it would be very helpful.
03:37I would urge you to look at these figures, there is actually a website called Russia
03:41Fossil Fuel Tracker, it would give you country by country who is really importing what and
03:48I suspect that might be very, very helpful.