New Delhi, Feb. 9 -- Speaking at a press briefing, senior US diplomat Karen Donfried made clear that America was not looking to sanction India for its purchases of Russian oil.

"I want to be clear, we are not looking to sanction India. Our partnership with India is one of our most consequential relationships," said Donfried, who also serves as Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs.

Donfired was responding to queries by the press on the statements made by Oleksander Merezhko, a senior Ukrainian lawmaker who called for India to be sanctioned if it continued purchases of Russian oil.

In recent months, Indian purchases of Russian oil have increased steadily with Moscow displacing traditional heavyweights like Iraq ...