Commenting on US attempts to put pressure on other countries in matters of relations with Russia, he stressed that there is no reason why India should sacrifice its interests "to please the demands of Washington."
“America does not ask us for advice and guidance when it makes its foreign policy decisions... We do not view our relationship with Russia as a zero-sum game, and it is not for America to tell us... how to defend our national interests.
The US needs to show a little more understanding.
Instead, Washington took the position of "either you are with us or you are against us," the diplomat said.
Kanwal Sibal also stressed that most of the world does not support sanctions pressure on Russia.
On April 1, the Russian Foreign Ministry reported that Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov held a meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a visit to the country.
New Delhi's balanced behavior reflects its interest in maintaining long-standing relations with Moscow amid the current crisis, writes Vox columnist Jan Kirby.