External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar described the cap on price of Russian crude oil as a Western decision that was taken without consultations with India

India tried to defuse the situation around Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant and quietly helped in the grain deal between Moscow and Kyiv, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar has said even as he vehemently rejected charges of New Delhi being a war profiteer over its procurement of discounted Russian oil.

The External Affairs Minister also described the cap on the price of Russian crude oil as a Western decision that was taken without any consultations with India, asserting that New Delhi would never automatically sign into what others had cooked upr has said even as he vehemently rejected charges of New Delhi being a war profiteer over its procurement of discounted Russian oil.

The External Affairs Minister also described the cap on the price of Russian crude oil as a Western decision that was taken without any consultations with India, asserting that New Delhi would never automatically sign into what others had cooked up.In an interview to ‘Die Press’ newspaper of Austria, Mr. Jaishankar while replying to a question on the Ukraine conflict, indicated India’s readiness to contribute towards defusing the situation.

Mr. Jaishankar was asked whether he saw a role for India as a mediator between Russia and Ukrainere serious global concerns over the safety of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant in August after it came under fire, with both Russia and Ukraine blaming each other for the attacks. Later, a team of experts from the International Atomic Energy Agency travelled to the site.

The grain deal was sealed in July following months of negotiations to primarily facilitate the export of around millions of tonnes of wheat, maize and other grains from Ukraine. The deal was considered crucial for addressing food shortages in many countries.

India no war profiteerAsked whether the main role of mediator had already been occupied by Turkey, Mr. Jaishankar saidNo. But it’s not a question of who gets the credit as mediator and makes the headlines for it.” To another question on India’s energy imports from Russia at discount prices and whether India was benefitting from not joining the Western sanctions, Mr. Jaishankar strongly rejected such a view.