Germany's Ambassador to India Walter J Lindner condemned Russian atrocities in Ukraine.
Germany does not wish to "preach" India into cutting back Russian oil imports, the country's ambassador to New Delhi Walter J Lindner told NDTV on Monday, adding that anyone who can reach out to Russian President Vladimir Putin can help bring the war in Ukraine to an end.
"There is no denying that many countries in Europe are dependent on Russian oil and coal. We didn't know that Putin will one day attack a neighbouring country. We are already reducing the imports massively. We want to reduce the dependency of oil to 0 per cent by the end of this year," he said.
Asked about India buying Russian oil during the war, Mr Lindner said, "Every country has its own past, its own dependencies. There's no preaching here. We have sanctions and if that can be used to stop the war, we will use that."
Shrugging off growing global pressure to distance itself from the Kremlin, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Friday had said that India will continue buying cheap Russian oil in the nation's interest and said energy security came first.
"We have started buying, we have received quite a number of barrels -- I would think three-four days supply and this will continue," Ms Sitharaman said at an event organised by CNBC-TV18 channel.
State-run oil companies in India have been buying Russian oil that has faced a growing boycott by the West since the beginning of war in Ukraine. The country has contracted Russian crude oil for deliveries over the next three to four months, Oil Minister Hardeep Singh Puri has said.
Russia is offering more oil to India at a discount of as much as $35 a barrel on prices before the war, Bloomberg News reported Thursday.
While India has supported calls for a cease-fire and a diplomatic solution to the war in Ukraine, India has stayed away from outrightly condemning Russia despite piling pressure from the US and its allies.
It also abstained at the United Nations on votes for draft resolutions condemning Russia's invasion that were ultimately vetoed by Moscow.
On the possibility of India playing the role of a mediator to bring the conflict to an end, Mr Lindner said, " The more the better. Many are already mediating. Turkey, Pope. The problem is Putin. If he is not willing to stop the war, if he is not willing to listen then no mediator can help. Whoever can talk sense to this Russian president is welcome."