External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Sunday confirmed that New Delhi has moved beyond advocacy and stepped up its efforts in recent months for the
resolution of the Russia-Ukraine conflict by engaging in conversations with both Kyiv and Moscow. This is the first public acknowledgement of New Delhi's expanded engagement in efforts to end the lingering war. "Our position on that conflict has been very clear, which is that we would like to see an end to this conflict. This will require dialogue and diplomacy. There has to be negotiations in this regard," Jaishankar said at the Munich Leaders' Meeting in New Delhi. "We have been advocating it for many years, and in recent months we have got a little bit more involved beyond advocacy. We have conversations with both Russia and Ukraine in this regard. We are trying to be helpful, starting with the Black Sea safety of shipping issue." Jaishankar said India is "going beyond that to cover some immediate concerns which both of them (Russia and Ukraine) have on grain exports, energy exports, non-attack possibilities. Those are ongoing conversations right now". Jaishankar said it is focusing on ensuring the safety of shipping in the Black Sea as well as on grain exports and energy supplies. Jaishankar's remark comes after Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said that Kyiv has received four offers for peace with Russia, with India's ceasefire proposal being the "broadest". "We have four proposals. The broadest one is India’s proposal. We are ready for an energy and Black Sea ceasefire, but only in this combination," Sybiha told reporters in Kyiv on Friday, according to the European Pravda newspaper. The other countries that have sent peace proposals include Türkiye, Egypt and the United States. Sybiha said Kyiv was ready to consider different formats for a truce, but any agreement should cover not only combat operations but also attacks on energy and port infrastructure and the situation in the Black Sea. Earlier this week, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi "has very good ideas aimed at finding mutually acceptable solutions." He said that despite close ties, PM Modi "constantly raises the issue" of ending the conflict and brings it up at "every meeting" between the two leaders. Earlier, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Russia would welcome peace efforts by India to resolve the Ukraine conflict and that Moscow's position was aligned with New Delhi's emphasis on dialogue and diplomacy.
