Russia gets money for the war from the country that Finns eagerly strive for

The war in the Middle East is directly reflected in Russia, whose oil still flows at least to India.

Russia finances its war of aggression in Ukraine largely with its oil revenues, and India has been one of the most important buyers of Russian oil.

As part of the trade agreement signed between the US and India in February, India promised to stop buying oil from Russia, but because of the Iran war, the US gave India permission to buy Russian oil for 30 days to curb the rise in oil market prices.

The purchase permit expires at the weekend, but according to Reuters sources, India expects the US to extend it. So India wants to continue using Russian oil.

“This is a fact. I don’t think that Finland can have a strong influence on it. India also produces oil itself, about 15 percent of its needs, but it is not enough. India has always bought oil from Russia and previously from the Soviet Union, and from Iran and other countries in the Persian Gulf region,” stated Erik of HällströmFinland’s consul general in Mumbai, on Talousaamu’s broadcast on Thursday.

“The United States has sometimes tried to pressure India to stop buying oil, sometimes India has reacted to it and bought less, but it has never stopped it completely.”

Are Indian oil purchases a problem for Finnish companies, which are now eager to enter the Indian market?

“I would see that these are different things. Of course, Finland has fully condemned Russia’s attack on Ukraine and implements sanctions against Russia. Finnish companies in India are then in a different context,” af Hällström commented.

The Indian economy is currently one of the fastest growing economies in the world and Finland wants to increase trade with India.

In an interview, Af Hällström gave tips for Finnish companies to operate in India.

Watch the interview and the entire broadcast here: