India stated on Friday that it is prepared to help positively to the restoration of peace between Russia and Ukraine, but that the two warring nations will ultimately determine when and how to start peace negotiations.
Modi ji handling Russia and Ukraine. pic.twitter.com/iPvCelPqBe
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India’s Help on the Russia-Ukraine Conflict
Speaking at a routine press conference, spokesman for the external affairs ministry Randhir Jaiswal attempted to downplay remarks made recently by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky criticizing India’s oil purchases from Russia and New Delhi’s refusal to sign the joint statement following the first peace summit on Ukraine.
Following Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visits to Moscow in July and Kyiv last week, there has been a great deal of conjecture in diplomatic circles regarding India’s potential involvement in mediating disputes between Russia and Ukraine. Under the condition of anonymity, people with knowledge of the situation have stated that New Delhi would rather communicate through messengers between the two parties than through direct mediation.
Zelensky’s Criticism of India’s Neutral Stance
Jaiswal attempted to downplay the likelihood of mediation when he was questioned multiple times during the briefing regarding India’s contribution to resolving the issue. “To achieve a negotiated settlement to this conflict, we have always advocated for constructive, solution-oriented, and practical engagement with all stakeholders,” he declared.
Our high-level outreach to both Russia and Ukraine demonstrates this. He continued, “The Prime Minister has already expressed India’s readiness to contribute positively to the cause of peace. Jaiswal emphasized that it is premature to make judgments about “specific modalities and pathways” for bringing about peace and putting an end to the conflict.
The two parties to the conflict have the final say on whether and how to start peace negotiations. He declared, “As friends and partners, we would support any workable and acceptable solution or format that could bring about peace.” Inquiries concerning Zelensky’s critique of India’s stance during a press conference after his August 23 meeting with Modi were also directed towards Jaiswal.
Zelensky’s Criticism of India’s Neutral Stance
Zelensky had claimed that if India changed its position, President Vladimir Putin would be compelled to halt the war since India’s imports of crude oil support Russia’s “war economy.” In addition, he suggested that India may serve as the host country for the second peace conference on Ukraine, but only if it agreed to the joint communiqué of the first summit. According to Jaiswal, this criticism represents the viewpoint that the Ukrainian side has expressed with the media on several issues.
“From our end, we will be directed by the bilateral conversations we’ve had with them, particularly the viewpoint exchanged during [Modi’s] visit, which we think will open the door for deeper bilateral ties in addition to encouraging more proactive dialogue on the potential for a peaceful settlement of the conflict,” he stated.
Modi’s Diplomatic Help to Moscow and Kyiv
Jaiswal restated that Modi had expressly informed Zelensky that India is prepared to “play an active role for peace” in its capacity as a friend of Ukraine. India has not yet criticized Russia for its invasion of Ukraine and has abstained from voting on the majority of UN resolutions about the country. As a representative of the Global South, the Ukrainian side has urged India to take further action to put an end to the conflict.
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