German Ambassador Philipp Ackermann has said that Germany has always said that India is in a “very good position” to basically listen to both sides when it comes to the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Although he did not know what New Delhi intended to do, Berlin “would welcome any involvement”.
Ambassador Ackermann spoke to the media at his residence here ahead of the visit of German Chancellor Olaf Scholz to India.
On October 25, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chancellor Scholze will co-chair the seventh Intergovernmental Consultations (IGC).
The IGC is a whole-of-government structure whereby ministers from both parties meet to discuss their areas of responsibility and report to the Prime Minister and Chancellor on the outcomes of their deliberations.
Responding to a question on India’s possible role towards resolution of the more than two-year-long conflict, Ackerman said, “We all know that Prime Minister (Modi) is coming back from the Kazan… BRICS summit. He has come.” “Talking to a number of leaders, including the Russian President, and without knowing the agenda of the bilateral talks… I’m sure it will be on the agenda, and the Chancellor will be very keen to see what the Prime Minister has to say after this meeting.”
“We have always said that India is in a very good position to basically listen to both sides and take both sides into account. We have seen the Prime Minister go to Kiev, we have seen a new interest in the conflict… I think, I don’t know what India intends to do, but we would welcome any participation.”
Later speaking to PTI Video after his briefing, the German envoy said he was confident that Modi and Scholz would “discuss geopolitics”.
“I am very confident, although I do not know the agenda of the bilateral meeting, but I am confident that they will discuss geopolitics. It will always be good to hear India’s perspective on things. We have a Euro-centric view on things. “India can add a lot to this approach. I know there is a very good dialogue between the Chancellor and the PM on these questions, and I am sure they will be dealt with during…(the meeting).” When he was asked whether the ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and West Asia would figure in his talks.
Prime Minister Modi is currently on a visit to Russia for the 16th BRICS summit held in Kazan. He held bilateral talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, hours after arriving in the central Russian city to attend the summit on Tuesday.
Prime Minister Modi on Wednesday called for resolution of the Russia-Ukraine conflict through peaceful dialogue at the BRICS summit in a clear message, saying India supports dialogue and diplomacy, not war.
In his address, Modi expressed concern over serious challenges such as war, economic uncertainty, climate change and terrorism and said BRICS can play a positive role in taking the world on the right path.
PM Modi visited Russia in July, his first visit after the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
In August he visited Ukraine at the invitation of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
In a joint statement issued by the Ministry of External Affairs on the visit, the Indian side had reiterated its principled position and focus on peaceful resolution through dialogue and diplomacy, as part of which, India participated in the talks in Ukraine held in Bergenstock, Switzerland. Participated in the peace summit. In June this year.
The Ukrainian side welcomed such participation by India and highlighted the importance of high-level Indian participation in the next peace summit.
In September, PM Modi had met Zelensky on the sidelines of UNGA in New York.
The leaders exchanged views on bilateral relations and also discussed the situation in Ukraine.
The Prime Minister had reiterated India’s willingness to play a constructive role in seeking a peaceful resolution to the conflict through dialogue and diplomacy.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
