NEW YORK: S. Jaishankar, India's External Affairs Minister, has given a resounding retort at an Al-Jazeera reporter who suggested that India face penalties over currency arrangements for energy purchases.

"I would propose that your attention be focused on Europe if you are looking at energy purchases from Russia," he stated, pausing dramatically as if completing a mental calculation before adding, "Probably our overall purchases for the month would be less than what Europe does in an afternoon." As a result, you might wish to consider it." Many reporters, as they had done at previous briefings, were obsessed with India's oil purchases from Russia, asking questions about it at the three briefings on Monday following the 2+2 meeting of Jaishankar, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Secretary of State Antony Blinken, and Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin.

They haven't, however, mentioned the idea of sanctions against US friends in Europe who buy far more oil.  "When it comes to oil purchases, sanctions, et cetera," Blinken explained, "I'd just remark that there are carveouts for energy purchases." To meet the interests of European countries, an exception was granted for energy purchases.

President Joe Biden's spokeswoman, Jen Psaki, responded to a question regarding India's oil purchases by saying that it was just 1 to 2%, while India bought around 10% of its energy needs from the US.

Biden-Modi meet: Biden highlights India's aid at summit

Ukraine's GDP expected to contract by 45 pc in 2022: World Bank

Zelensky warns Russia likely to "even larger operations in the east of our state”