Key Takeaways
- India's Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar seeks a bigger role in the Russia-Ukraine conflict resolution.
- India is engaging in dialogue with both Russia and Ukraine, focusing on Black Sea shipping safety and grain and energy exports.
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky hopes for new US-led peace talks by October.
India is stepping up its diplomatic efforts to play a more significant role in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, according to Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar. Speaking at the Munich Security Conference in New Delhi, Jaishankar stated that India is advocating for an end to the conflict through dialogue and diplomacy.
Jaishankar highlighted India's ongoing conversations with both Russia and Ukraine, emphasizing that the country is trying to be 'helpful, starting with the Black Sea safety of shipping'.
The Indian government is also discussing grain and energy exports, as well as non-attack possibilities, as part of its broader engagement. Jaishankar mentioned that these conversations are 'ongoing right now'.
In September, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin met in New Delhi, further cementing their close ties. Modi's visit to Ukraine in September marked his first solo trip to the country since the conflict began.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has expressed hope that the United States will broker a new round of talks with Russia and Ukraine to end the four-and-a-half-year war. Zelensky believes these talks should be held by the end of October.
The US-led peace efforts have been largely stalled, with Washington's attention diverted to its ongoing conflict with Iran. Ukraine has also reported an increase in Russian aerial attacks, complicating the peace process.
Previous rounds of talks have failed to yield tangible progress, with Moscow unwilling to drop its maximalist conditions to end the fighting. India's involvement is seen as a potential catalyst for renewed negotiations.
India's push for a greater role in the peace process is part of its broader strategy to maintain good relations with both Russia and Ukraine, while also supporting international efforts to resolve the conflict.
Our position on that conflict has been very clear, which is that we’d like to see an end to this conflict, and we believe that this will require dialogue and diplomacy.
Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, India's Foreign Minister
We have been advocating it for many years, and in recent months we have got a little bit more involved beyond advocacy, so we have conversations with both Russia and Ukraine in this regard.
Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, India's Foreign Minister
