The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) reiterated that national interest guides India's energy purchases and that the imperative to meet the energy requirements of one point four billion (bn) people underpins policy.

The reaffirmation followed remarks by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar that the Russia-Ukraine conflict cannot be resolved by individual countries deciding to buy or not buy Russian oil and other commodities, and the MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated that energy sourcing will continue to be guided by national interest.

Officials described the minister's comments as part of a broader engagement in Kyiv, where he met Ukrainian counterparts and called on the president to discuss avenues for de?escalation, and the minister emphasised that the conflict requires dialogue, diplomacy and negotiation rather than market boycotts.

The spokesperson outlined that the visit was consistent with the government's long standing position that the conflict should not be resolved on the battlefield and that India remains willing to contribute in any manner that might help end hostilities, while officials indicated readiness to assist where feasible and highlighted the challenge of ensuring affordable and secure energy supplies for a large population.