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This is an archive article published on September 13, 2023
War, territorial integrity, Ukraine: German envoy reveals who wanted what
Russia didn’t want war in note, Kyiv sought war against Ukraine: Envoy
Philipp Ackermann, Germany’s Ambassador to India (File)
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War, territorial integrity, Ukraine: German envoy reveals who wanted what
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Stating that Chancellor Olaf Scholz was “very satisfied” with the G20 New Delhi Leaders’ Declaration that “exceeded expectations”, Philipp Ackermann, Germany’s Ambassador to India, said Tuesday that Russia didn’t want the word “war”, Ukraine wanted “war against Ukraine” and Germany wanted “territorial integrity” in the declaration.
In the final declaration, the word “war” was used, but it was used as “war in Ukraine” and not war against Ukraine, and “territorial integrity” too found mention.
Speaking to a select group of journalists, Ackermann said the Indian G20 Sherpa Amitabh Kant, along with Sherpas of Brazil, South Africa and Indonesia, shared the final text of the declaration — a hard copy on paper — to the Sherpas Friday night and asked them to “take it or leave it”.
“The Sherpas of all the countries had seen the text on screen, and the four Presidencies presented the text on paper… all the Sherpas knew the language by heart by then since it had been negotiated… and asked them that if they had any problem, they should speak to Prime Minister Narendra Modi,” he said.
The declaration was adopted Saturday and it was announced by Prime Minister Modi in the afternoon.
Ackermann said while Russia was not named in the declaration, it had “Russia written all over it”.
Describing Kant as a “tough” negotiator, he said India was able to bring a consensus skilfully. “This was possible because India is important and has political weight, so it could do it,” he said.
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The German envoy said the declaration was “fantastic” and “stronger than Bali” and “weaker” in some ways. But if the G7 had come out with a statement, it would have been very different, he said.
For a G20 grouping which, he said, is “heterogeneous”, this was “skilfully negotiated”.
He said Chancellor Scholz came to India with two ideas: That Germany completely supported the G20 Summit, and that Ukraine should be part of the declaration.
“He went back most satisfied, and the outcome exceeded expectations,” Ackermann said, adding that the Indian side did it under the “most difficult circumstances”.
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He said the idea of the G20 Summit being taken to more than 50 locations in India was a “great idea”.
Scholz, he said, had a meeting with Modi where they had brief discussions on bilateral issues.
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