Jaishankar, Sybiha hold phone conversation

New Delhi, Jul 30 (PTI) Ukraine on Thursday pitched for India to play an “active role” in ending its conflict with Russia as External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and his Ukrainian counterpart Andrii Sybiha held a phone conversation focusing on the deteriorating security situation in the Black Sea region.

The call came days after India summoned Ukrainian Ambassador Oleksandr Polishchuk and lodged a strong protest over the killing of an Indian seafarer in an attack on a merchant vessel in the Black Sea.

In a social media post, the Ukrainian foreign minister said he had a “good” conversation with Jaishankar and that he briefed his Indian counterpart about President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s recent visit to Washington DC.

Sybiha said he also conveyed

to Jaishankar the “consequences of Russian aggression” far beyond Ukraine’s borders.

“By attacking civilian vessels in the Black Sea, Russia undermines freedom of navigation and puts global food security at risk. At the same time, its continued war fuels instability in global energy markets, affecting countries far beyond our region,” he alleged.

“I reaffirmed Ukraine’s commitment to achieving a comprehensive and lasting peace and encouraged India to play an active role in peace efforts. We agreed to remain in close contact,” the Ukrainian foreign minister said.

India on Monday had summoned Ukrainian Ambassador Polishchuk and lodged a strong protest over killing of an Indian seafarer in an attack on a merchant vessel in the Black Sea.

The vessel MV Omorfi reportedly came under Ukrainian drone strikes amid fresh hostilities between Russia and Ukraine. PTI MPB ZMN