'Conflict will be solved by dialogue': India as US weighs sanctions on Russian oil buyers - The Times of India

**India Stresses Dialogue as the United States Mulls Sanctions on Russian Oil Purchasers**

New Delhi reiterated its long‑standing view that the Russia‑Ukraine war can only be resolved through diplomatic engagement, even as Washington prepares a new round of secondary sanctions targeting entities that buy Russian crude. In a press conference in Kyiv, External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar said India was “ready to extend help in any manner” to bring the conflict to an end, emphasizing that “dialogue, not force, will solve the conflict.” He added that India’s stance was guided by the principles of strategic autonomy and non‑alignment, and that any external pressure to curtail oil purchases would be “examined in the context of our energy security and sovereign decision‑making.”

Despite the mounting U.S. pressure, India has so far maintained its imports of Russian oil, which account for a significant share of the country’s energy mix. Jaishankar told Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy that India would continue to buy Russian fuel as long as it complied with international norms, and that the country was prepared to assist in humanitarian relief, reconstruction, and capacity‑building efforts in Ukraine. The minister’s remarks were echoed by officials in New Delhi, who said that India’s engagement with Moscow was driven by market considerations and the need to diversify supply, not by endorsement of Russia’s actions in Ukraine.

Jaishankar’s visit to Kyiv, followed by a stop in Warsaw, underscored India’s desire to keep diplomatic channels open with both Ukraine and its European partners. President Zelenskyy lauded India’s “clear position” and welcomed the prospect of Indian involvement in peace‑building initiatives, noting that India’s approach contrasted with the “war‑like” rhetoric that often dominates international discourse. As the United States finalizes its sanctions framework, analysts note that India’s measured response reflects a balancing act: preserving vital energy ties with Russia while signaling a willingness to contribute constructively to a negotiated settlement of the conflict.