Open to any impactful step towards peace: Jaishankar on Ukraine conflict
India believes it’s essential to include Russia in any peace talks to resolve the Ukraine conflict and New Delhi is willing to be part of any step that is “serious, impactful and towards peace”, said External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar while speaking at a press meet in Berlin after talks with his German counterpart Annalena Baerbock on Tuesday.
On being asked if India would like to host the next peace summit to resolve the conflict, Jaishankar said suggestions had been made from time to time. “For us, it’s not a process or to be seen doing something. The important reality is the conflict. We are open to any step that is serious, impactful and towards peace.”
Jaishankar reiterated India’s stance that the battlefield was not a solution to the Russia-Ukraine conflict. “Where India is concerned, we are there for what the two parties want.” These are the first official words from India on its role, if any, in the resolution after Russian President Vladimir Putin suggested that India, Brazil and China could mediate.
Jaishankar, who held wide-ranging discussions with Baerbock on trade, defence and security, had arrived in Germany from Saudi Arabia after attending the first India-Gulf Cooperation Council Ministerial Meeting for Strategic Dialogue. To lay the groundwork for Inter-Governmental Consultations in India later this year where PM Narendra Modi would meet German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, the EAM also addressed a conference of Ambassadors of Germany.
He took questions from German businessmen at the meet, attended by Germany’s Ambassador to India Philipp Ackermann. Germany will host the 18th Asia Pacific Conference of German Business in New Delhi in October.
