Hope PM Modi will use channels to Russia to help bring ceasefire in Ukraine: Norway PM Store

Norway hopes India will use its channels with Russia to push for a ceasefire in the war in Ukraine, said Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store. Speaking to Indian journalists here in Oslo during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s two-day visit to Norway, Mr. Store indicated that while the two sides had differences on the issue, he understood India’s need to source energy.

The Norwegian government has built a fund for Ukraine and sent in military support in the conflict, and has consistently pushed for more sanctions against Russia.

‘Respect’ for India’s energy needs

Mr. Store said it was useful to exchange views with Mr. Modi on Tuesday (May 19) on geopolitical issues, and he had “respect” for the reasons for India’s position on the Russia-Ukraine conflict. He also said that External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval had met their Norwegian counterparts for further discussions on the issue.

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“India is a huge country and has needs for its energy supplies. And Norway being an energy exporter, we should respect that,” Mr. Store said in response to a question from The Hindu, but added that there has to be “more pressure on Russia to come to the table and make real effort to end this war.”

Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, India has increased its intake of Russian oil multifold, with Russian crude that once made up less than 1% of India’s imports reaching high points of 40% of the whole.

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Mr. Store’s comments came shortly before the U.S. government announced it would extend its sanctions waivers on the import of Russian oil for a third month during the war in West Asia, while India said it would continue its oil imports from Moscow.  

“We believe that when Russia can feel that energy [exports] are also being restricted — their sales — that creates pressure on Russia. At the same time, I know that the Indian Prime Minister and Indian leadership have channels with the Russian leadership, and I hope to see that they can use them to get a ceasefire going,” Mr. Store continued, when asked about his comments during a joint press appearance earlier in the day, where he referred to issues where “Norway and India do not always see eye to eye”.

However, he denied that the differences had impacted the bilateral relationship between India and Norway in any negative way.

On India’s role in Arctic Council

Mr. Store was also asked about whether the divide over Russia would affect India’s engagement with the 8-nation Arctic Council that includes all Arctic states: Canada, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Russia, Sweden and the United States. India has been a permanent member of the grouping that discusses trade routes, climate change and ocean management since 2013, and Mr. Store denied a question on whether Norway expects India to “pick a side” between Russia and other members.

“We wish to see that India with its science, which is more and more impressive, can also be part of the research on Arctic climate, which is important for India. And I hope in the future that Arctic cooperation can come back to some more normal terms,” he added.

PM Modi and PM Store will be joined on Tuesday by other leaders of Nordic States — Sweden, Iceland, Finland and Denmark for the Third Nordic-India Summit.

The meeting is taking place a year after it was originally scheduled, as PM Modi had to cancel his visit after the terror strikes in Pahalgam and the 4-day India-Pakistan conflict.

When asked, Mr. Store said that all countries must take a firm position against terrorism, which Norway has also suffered due to.

“We have to stand together against [terrorism], to fight it in its darkest shapes, but also to prevent it. And for that we need political cooperation and today’s visit has confirmed that Norway and India are getting closer,” Mr. Store told Indian journalists.