India ready to help end Ukraine war 'in any manner', Jaishankar says in Kyiv
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar says India is ready to help end the Ukraine-Russia war in any manner during talks in Kyiv.
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar has said India is prepared to extend assistance "in any manner" to help end the Russia-Ukraine war, now in its fifth year. He made the remarks during a joint press statement in Kyiv on Thursday after holding wide-ranging talks with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha.
Mr. Jaishankar reiterated India's longstanding position that this is "not an era of war" and that solutions will not emerge from the battlefield. He recalled that Prime Minister Narendra Modi, just two days earlier, had called for moving from endless war towards an end to war during a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Bishkek.
"Every passing day of conflict only means more deaths and more destruction," Mr. Jaishankar said. "Understandably, it is for the parties involved to find a way. But, if India can be of any help in any manner, we are ready."
Mr. Sybiha welcomed Mr. Modi's call, saying Ukraine "stands ready for diplomacy." He described India as a global power and expressed support for the Indian Prime Minister's push towards ending the conflict.
Mr. Jaishankar noted that his visit had a bilateral purpose but also took place against the backdrop of the war that has raged since 2022. He expressed condolences over the recent killing of an Indian national in an attack in Kyiv, saying India mourns every life lost.
The discussions also touched on attacks on commercial shipping in the Black Sea, which Mr. Jaishankar said have affected Indian seafarers and contributed to fuel, fertiliser, and food shortages across the Global South. He mentioned India's supply of 19 consignments of humanitarian assistance to Ukraine.
On bilateral ties, Mr. Jaishankar acknowledged that trade has faced disruption due to the war and logistical challenges but noted visible resilience and new possibilities. He invited Mr. Sybiha to visit India for the next meeting of the Intergovernmental Commission.