New Delhi: In the midst of intense diplomatic efforts to resolve the Ukraine conflict, India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar met with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov on Wednesday.
This meeting followed discussions between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky. Post-meeting, EAM Jaishankar stated, “Discussed our bilateral cooperation and regional issues,” at the Russian Mission.
On the previous evening, EAM Jaishankar suggested that India is exploring the possibility of involving both nations in a peace initiative. Speaking at the Asia Society, he remarked, “We have been engaging with the governments of Russia and Ukraine — in Moscow, Kyiv, and elsewhere — to determine if we can contribute to expediting the end of the conflict and the start of serious negotiations.”
He also mentioned that India was “sharing” the dialogues it had with each country, and he believed that “both sides appreciate it.” Historically aligned closely with Moscow, New Delhi is now charting an independent course that remains open to the West, positioning itself as a potential intermediary in the peace diplomacy between the two nations.
In his address to the General Assembly on Wednesday morning, Zelensky referenced his meeting with PM Modi. He also mentioned at the Security Council on Tuesday that he has extended an invitation to India for a “second peace summit to end the war.” During PM Modi’s meeting with Zelensky on Monday, which was their second in a month, the Ministry of External Affairs highlighted that discussions prominently featured “the way forward on pursuing a path to peace.”
PM Modi reaffirmed “India’s clear, consistent, and constructive approach” to resolving the conflict with Russia through diplomacy and dialogue, as stated by the Ministry. PM Modi, during his visit to Ukraine last month, expressed, “Personally, as a friend, if there is any role that I can play, I would very much like to play that role toward peace.”
Upon returning home, PM Modi conversed with Russian President Vladimir Putin over the phone, sharing on X that they “exchanged perspectives on the Russia-Ukraine conflict and insights from my recent visit to Ukraine.”
This month, India’s National Security Adviser Ajit Doval visited Putin, reportedly to brief him on PM Modi’s visit to Kyiv. Prior to his trip to Ukraine, PM Modi had travelled to Moscow to meet with Putin.
Despite India’s reliance on Moscow for defence materials, it continues to purchase oil and petroleum products from Russia. However, a Reuters investigation reported that munitions produced by Indian companies were reaching Ukraine via third-party European countries.
