India's External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar defended New Delhi's energy ties with Moscow at a conference in Helsinki, claiming the US regime asked India to buy Russian oil.

Speaking at the Kultaranta Talks hosted by Finnish President Alexander Stubb, Jaishankar said India's policy on Russian oil is based on 'cost and availability'. He argued that European criticism is hypocritical as Europe itself buys oil from the Middle East, disrupting India's traditional supply routes.

Jaishankar accused the US regime of double standards: 'The US specifically asked India to buy Russian oil to stabilize world markets. After imposing tariffs last year, the US then lifted sanctions on Russian oil. Let's not pretend there is some great principle involved here.'

He also criticized European arms sales, stating 'Europeans sell weapons which are used to attack India. We Indians have never done anything to endanger Europe.'

Separately, a fire in a five-story residential building in Delhi's Tughlakabad area killed three people and left two critically injured. The blaze, reportedly caused by an electrical short circuit, broke out early Friday morning.

Source: www.dw.com