Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Tuesday defended India’s choice to proceed shopping for Russian oil, accusing the United States of attempting to eradicate competitors utilizing the Ukraine battle as a pretext. “Our Indian counterparts have already reacted to [this pressure] to stop buying oil from Russia. They proceed from the assumption [that] if the United States wants to sell something to India, including oil, India is ready to negotiate and discuss the terms and conditions. However, when it comes to trade with other countries, it is only for Russia and India to discuss,” Lavrov informed reporters, as quoted by Sputnik India. Lavrov added that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar had spoken on the difficulty. “I believe that this stance reflects national interest and national pride and honour of our Indian friends,” he stated.Lavrov’s latest remarks are considerably just like what he stated on the sidelines of UNGA held in New York, after assembly EAM Jaishankar. At the time, he had stated that Russia totally respects India’s national pursuits and the “independent foreign policy” that PM Narendra Modi is pursuing, whereas additionally stressing India and Russia share a “particularly privileged strategic partnership”.“These situations that might arise between India and the US or India and any other country, I can’t consider them a criteria for relations between India and Russia,” he added addressing the media.Further speaking about his anticipated go to he added, “We have full respect for the national interests of India, full respect for the foreign policy (PM) Narendra Modi is carrying out to promote these national interests,” added the minister, who is predicted to go to India forward of the India-Russia annual summit in December.”