Marco Rubio Claims India Committed to Halt New Russian Oil Buys; Jaishankar Stresses Autonomy

• US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated at the Munich Security Conference that India assured Washington it would stop buying additional Russian oil.
• Rubio's remarks follow fresh US sanctions on Russia’s energy sector, aiming to limit Russia’s energy earnings amid the Ukraine conflict.
• External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, at the same event, emphasized India’s commitment to strategic autonomy and independent decision-making.
• Jaishankar highlighted that commercial considerations, including availability, cost, and risk, guide India's energy procurement decisions.
• He noted that India continuously reassesses partnerships and maintains dialogue, even if it doesn't agree with all partners on every issue.