India said on Wednesday it is engaged in conversations with Russia and Ukraine on a ceasefire proposal, including ensuring the safety of merchant shipping in the Black Sea and the unimpeded movement of grain and energy supplies, and both countries have appreciated New Delhi’s peace efforts.
The remarks by external affairs ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal at a regular media briefing came hours after HT reported on the three-part proposal that was conveyed by external affairs minister S Jaishankar to the Ukrainian leadership during a visit to Kyiv last month. “In keeping with this idea to bring peace, India has engaged both sides. Jaiswal reiterated India’s call for dialogue and diplomacy to de-escalate tensions and enable the early return of peace in the region.
Jaiswal referred to India’s consistent position advocating dialogue and diplomacy as the way forward — including Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s message to Russian President Vladimir Putin at a meeting in Kyrgyzstan on August 31 that endless war must give way to the end of war — and said New Delhi has engaged Moscow and Kyiv in peace efforts.
This has been appreciated by both Russia and Ukraine,” he said. Providing specifics about the Indian proposal, Jaiswal said Jaishankar recently noted that India is trying to be helpful, starting with the safety of shipping in the Black Sea, addressing immediate concerns of Russia and Ukraine on grain and energy exports, and “non-attack possibilities”. Jaiswal referred to recent strikes on four commercial vessels in the Black Sea and said: “We condemn such attacks that threaten commercial shipping and endanger lives of our seafaring community. The Togo-flagged Alfa Watan was attacked on Tuesday and the fate of its crew, including Indian nationals, is “unknown at this point”, Jaiswal said. “The targeting of commercial shipping and seafarers in the region must end, and free and unimpeded navigation and commerce through international waterways must be restored at the earliest,” he said.
