Every country including India has the right to buy oil or lubricants from any other country. White House official John Kirby said this on Wednesday.

Actually, Kirby was asked whether US President Joe Biden can discuss with Prime Minister Narendra Modi about buying oil by Russia during his visit to India? On this, Kirby, the National Security Council (NSC) coordinator for strategic communications, said that as I said, we encourage all countries to buy oil as per the price limit. He said that we will also do the same. However, from the US perspective we do not believe this is the time for business as usual with Russia.

He said that every country has to take its own decisions. We have been absolutely clear with all our allies and partners about where we stand in terms of economic opportunities and trade with Russia. Therefore, every country will have to take this decision on its own. It is noteworthy that ever since India said that it will buy oil from Russia, it has become a big issue for the world.

At a press conference at the Washington Foreign Press Center, Kirby also talked about Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping's absence from the G-20 summit in India this week. He said that there is no information about the possibility of any plan among the leaders regarding their absence from the summit. He said that my message to Russia is to leave Ukraine, stop the war.

In the briefing, the NSC coordinator also mentioned about the possibility of discussions between the US President and Indian Prime Minister Modi on Friday. Kirby said he has no doubt they will also discuss the ongoing war in Ukraine and its impact on low- and middle-income countries, the damaging impact.