German Ambassador to India Dr Philipp Ackermann said on Wednesday that he cannot blame New Delhi for its decision to purchase oil from Russia at a low price. Ackermann's remark assumes significance as it came ahead of German Chancellor Olaf Scholz's visit to India on February 25 and 26.
"India buying oil from Russia is none of our business basically. That's something which the Indian government decides and as you get it at a very low price, I cannot blame any government who buys it," he said at a press conference in Delhi, reported ANI.
Ackermann also noted that India is an appropriate candidate at some stage to come up with a solution to the Russia-Ukraine conflict but not now.
“India is a very appropriate candidate, at some stage may be, to come up with some solution. But, I don't think this is the time. I say this with all due caution because we have listened to what (Russian President Vladimir)Putin said yesterday. When you want to find a solution to the conflict, you need two parties to be prepared to find the solution," he said.
Responding to a query on Germany's efforts to end the war, Ackermann said the Chancellor has been talking to Putin over phone.
"There's uninterrupted communication between the Kremlin and some European capitals. We have to be honest, this communication has delivered nothing, but we believe the Ukraine crisis must be resolved diplomatically," he said.
Chancellor Scholz will arrive in India on Saturday and will visit Delhi and Bengaluru. The Ukraine crisis is expected to figure in his talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Last week, US Assistant Secretary of State for Energy Resources Geoffrey R. Pyatt had said there was "no contradiction at all" in India remaining one of the key partners of the US and its increasing procurement of discounted crude oil from Russia. Pyatt also said that the US is "comfortable" with India's overall approach in addressing matters relating to energy security.
The remarks of the top official of the Biden administration were seen as the first clear articulation of the US' view on the contentious issue amid the Ukraine conflict.
