Modi, Putin Held Talks On Ukraine Peace: Jaishankar

In an interview with ANI on the sidelines of the G20 foreign ministers’ meeting in Atlanta on Saturday, Jaishankar said India was engaging Russia, Ukraine, European countries and the United States on three crucial issues — protecting civilian shipping, restoring grain exports and preventing attacks on energy infrastructure.

Jaishankar told ANI that Modi had personally discussed the conflict with Putin in New Delhi and earlier in Bishkek. The minister said he had also visited Moscow and Kyiv for consultations and discussed the issue with Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov.

India was coordinating its efforts with Washington, which has launched its own peace initiative, he said, adding that US Secretary of State Marco Rubio was aware of the discussions.

Explaining India’s priorities, Jaishankar said the first was to prevent attacks on civilian vessels and seafarers. The second was to restore grain exports from Russia and Ukraine, both major suppliers to global markets, as shipments through the Black Sea had declined sharply.

The third involved preventing attacks on energy infrastructure, including refineries, power grids and vessels transporting fuel.

Jaishankar described energy security as the most complicated issue because the parties involved had differing concerns.

He told ANI that India was trying to bring the sides together but declined to disclose details of the ongoing negotiations.

At the G20 meeting, Jaishankar reiterated India’s position that major global conflicts could not be resolved militarily and required diplomatic solutions.

He also warned that disruptions in energy markets, grain shipments and fertiliser supplies were disproportionately affecting developing countries.