India has taken on a more active role in direct negotiations to end the war between Russia and Ukraine, engaging both sides on Black Sea shipping safety and ways to reduce the intensity of fighting.
Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar said New Delhi has moved beyond simply calling for peace in recent months. Reporting by Bloomberg cited the minister as saying Indian officials are holding talks with both Moscow and Kyiv to help secure maritime navigation in the Black Sea.
The direct talks began after attacks in July killed and injured Indian sailors, prompting New Delhi to raise security concerns with both capitals. Jaishankar explained that the scope of contact broadened over time. Discussions initially focused on maritime safety before expanding to include measures for facilitating grain exports through the Black Sea. Energy supplies were subsequently added to the negotiating agenda, alongside discussions on whether both sides could refrain from mutual strikes. However, the minister warned that there is no certainty an agreement will be reached.
India has maintained a cautious diplomatic stance since Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine, largely due to its long-standing strategic relationship with Moscow. New Delhi relies on Russia for energy supplies and military hardware, leading it to refrain from direct criticism of the Kremlin and to abstain from voting on United Nations resolutions condemning the war. The Black Sea serves as a crucial trade route for global commodity markets, making maritime safety a primary economic priority for non-aligned nations.
Peace proposals and Kremlin response
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha acknowledged the growing diplomatic role played by India in trying to achieve a ceasefire. Sybiha stated that India is among four nations that have put forward formal proposals to end the war, describing the initiative presented by New Delhi as the most comprehensive option submitted so far.
Despite these diplomatic efforts, the Kremlin has rejected calls to halt military operations. Russian officials stated that launching strikes against Ukraine remains the only way Russia can secure its strategic interests, adding that military actions will not stop until Russian forces capture the entire Donbas region in eastern Ukraine.
