External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar on Friday (local time) defended India’s purchase of Russian oil, while highlighting what he called a contradiction in European criticism of New Delhi’s energy policy.

While speaking during a discussion on “Emerging Powers and the New Geopolitical Competition” at the Kultaranta Talks in Finland, the Union Minister was asked about India’s stance and if India was “too sympathetic to Russia” and “too willing to buy oil from Russia”.

In response, he explained the “moral ambiguity” of purchasing Russian oil, and said that Europe had sold weapons that were later used against India, while no Indian weapon has ever been used to attack an European country.

“No European country has been attacked with Indian weapons. I wish I could say that for Europe weapons vis-a-vis India,” Jaishankar said during a discussion on emerging geopolitical competition.

When asked to elaborate, he reiterated India’s long-standing concerns over Western arms supplies in the region.“Europe sells weapons, which are used to attack India.