India Key Consumer of Russian Oil, US Begins Cabinet Level Talks With India

WASHINGTON, CA(ANI) – The United States has begun talks with India on how Russian oil price caps work, National Security Advisor (NSA) Jake Sullivan said on June 28 as he described New Delhi as one of the key consuming countries of Russian oil.

US President Joe Biden and Prime Minister Narendra Modi met in Germany on June 27 on the sidelines of the (G7) Summit. When asked about discussions between the two leaders about India’s purchases of Russian oil, Sullivan said, “One aspect of that, of course, is intensive engagement with key consuming countries. India is one of those countries. That engagement has begun. We have begun talks with India on how the price cap would work and what the implications would be.”

Biden did not speak directly about this issue with Modi, however, senior government officials have discussed the topic, Sullivan noted.

“Before it goes to leader-to-leader level, we need to work through the details with their team at basically the Cabinet level, which is where it is right now,” he said.

US National Security coordinator John Kirby said that the US wanted other countries including India to help them increase the costs and consequences of the war on Russian President Vladimir Putin amid the Ukraine conflict.

Addressing a press briefing, Kirby said the US shares a deep partnership with India, but Washington wants international pressure on Russia amid the Ukraine conflict.