New Delhi: Philipp Ackermann, German Ambassador to India, said that India buying discounted oil from Russia is not "our business". "India buying oil from Russia is none of our business. If you get it at a low price, I can't blame India for it."
Ackermann also said that India is an appropriate candidate to come up with a solution (to stop Russia- Ukraine war). India has skilled and good diplomacy, reported ANI.
Weeks ago, the US also said it was "comfortable" with New Delhi's approach to doing business with Moscow. India is the third-largest crude importer after China and the US. Many had taken to social media to criticise India's continued purchases during the Ukraine war. Western nations have also been critical of the movie.
India has maintained that it will keep buying oil from wherever it gets a good deal. And Moscow has welcomed India's decision to not support the price cap announced by G7 and its allies as a means to punish Moscow for the invasion of Ukraine.
In January, India imported a record 1.4 million barrels per day which is a 9.2% increase from December. Indian refiners are snapping up discounted crude and refining it into fuel for Europe and the US. Fuel refined in India is not considered to be of Russian origin. A top US official said that this method is furthering the policy of G7.
US Assistant Secretary of State for Energy Geoffrey R Pyatt last week said the Indian companies are "very successfully" negotiating the price for Russian crude oil which enabled Indian refiners to then put the product on the global market at a "very competitive and profitable price".