India subject to enormous, completely unjustified pressure due to energy ties with Russia: Russian FM Lavrov

Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov criticizes Ukraine's remarks on India's energy cooperation with Russia during a press conference in New York.

India is a great power that determines its national interests and chooses its partners, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has said, describing as “completely unjustified” the “enormous pressure” on New Delhi due to its energy cooperation with Moscow.

During a press conference here on July 17, Mr. Lavrov also termed as "insulting" Ukraine's remarks on the recent meeting between President Vladimir Putin and Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Moscow.

“I think India is a great power that sets its own national interests, determines its own national interests, and chooses its own partners. And we know that India is being subject to enormous pressure, completely unjustified pressure in the international arena,” Mr. Lavrov said.

Mr. Lavrov was responding to a question about Prime Minister Modi's recent visit to Moscow and the opposition faced by India for its energy cooperation with Russia. With Russia presiding over the UN Security Council for the month of July, Mr. Lavrov is in New York to chair meetings of the Council being held under Moscow’s presidency.

Prime Minister Modi paid an official visit to Russia on July 8-9 at the invitation of Russian President Vladimir Putin for the 22nd India – Russia Annual Summit. This was Mr. Modi’s first trip to Russia since the start of the Ukraine conflict.

India has not yet condemned Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022 and has consistently pitched for a resolution of the conflict through dialogue and diplomacy.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has also criticised Mr. Modi’s visit to Moscow, saying in a post on X that “A Russian missile struck the largest children's hospital in Ukraine, targeting young cancer patients. Many were buried under the rubble.