During a visit to India on Thursday, France’s foreign minister told India Today that his country values India’s energy and other ties to Russia and is aware of them.
India has not spoken out against Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February. Instead, it has called for dialogue and peace. Since the conflict, India has bought a lot more crude oil and coal from Russia. Russia is also the biggest foreign supplier of defence equipment to India.
Catherine Colonna said in an interview in response to a question about India’s oil trade and general relations with Russia, “We recognise the contrasts in our relations with Russia.”
“We know the history” of India’s past and present relationships with Russia, Colonna said. “We do appreciate that your country wants to keep some ties.”
Western diplomats and other officials have been to India a lot lately to try to get support for a plan by the G7, which includes France, to control the price of Russian oil.
