France’s foreign minister told India Today on Thursday during a visit to the nation that his country respects and is aware of India’s energy and other ties to Russia.

India has advocated for dialogue and peace rather than denouncing Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February. India’s imports of Russian crude oil and coal have increased significantly since the war, and Russia is the largest foreign supplier of defense equipment to India.

“We know the differences in our relations vis-a-vis Russia,” Catherine Colonna said in an interview, during which she was asked about India’s oil trade and overall ties with Russia.

“We know the history” of India’s past and present relations with Russia, Colonna said. “We do respect your country’s decision to keep going with some relations.”

India has seen a flurry of visits from Western diplomats and other officials in recent weeks, as they seek to widen support for a plan of the G7 group of rich countries including France to cap the price of Russian oil.