Finland has voiced support for India amid criticism over New Delhi’s purchase of Russian crude oil, saying the transactions were not wrong when carried out within the Western-imposed price cap.
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, on a Europe tour, attended the “Kultaranta Talks” conference in Finland. He said India had not done anything that endangered Europe and that purchases were based on market price and availability.
Jaishankar also noted that the United States had, at the time, urged India to buy from Russia to help stabilise the international oil market.
Speaking at the same conference, Finland’s Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen said the price cap was not designed to stop countries from buying Russian crude altogether. Instead, she said, the aim was to ensure continued oil supply while preventing Russia from making excessive profits.
Valtonen added that India bought crude for its needs and remained within the set cap, and that she did not see any other motive behind the purchases.
