India sticks to Ukraine stand as US ramps up bid to woo its support against Russia

Indian officials and diplomats have “politely” told Elizabeth Rozenberg, a top US treasury official, that New Delhi’s position on the Ukraine conflict remains unchanged. “There is no question of criticizing one side or the other, as India is on the side of peace. This stand has been respected and appreciated by various countries,” the US official was told. She held meetings with senior officials at MEA, Home Ministry, Petroleum Ministry and Finance Ministry during her three-day stay here.

Sources said that U.S. Assistant Secretary for Terrorist Financing and Financial Crimes at the US Department of Treasury, Elizabeth Rozenberg’s visit to India was aimed at stepping up the US effort to bring India on board with its sanctions against Russia. Since she is considered to be a key official of the Biden administration, her engagements with the Indian officials were viewed as a very important development. Elizabeth is learnt to have discussed with the government officials here India’s oil purchases and plans to use the rupee-robule payment, sources said. She also held interactions with RBI officials in Mumbai.

“Elizabeth’s visit to India was part of the US strategy to commence its efforts to try to wean New Delhi off its oil imports from Moscow,” sources told The Daily Guardian. But the entire exercise on the part of the US official met with India’s firm stand not to criticize Russia or say a word against it. Rather, officials reiterated New Delhi’s stand that all the problems should be resolved diplomatically by Ukraine and Russia.

Union Minister of Commerce, Piyush Goyal’s recent statement at Davos was shared with her as well, sources said. Goyal had said, “India imports less than 1 per cent of its crude from Russia, contrary to some countries in the European Union, which have upped imports. Amid the continuing conflict in Ukraine, India is trying to secure its own interests as all European nations are.’’

At the same time, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar’s speech at a Guwahati event came as a message to the visiting US official. Jaishankar said, “India has been able to maintain its policy of non-alignment in the polarised global scenario by being clear about its own interests and confident of pursuing it. The challenge for India to stand by its non-aligned policy is not a new one.” The minister added, “Every time the world polarises, it has its own complications and we are at that stage right now. There are multiple reasons for it, Ukraine being one of them.”