Jaishankar in Kyiv: Buying Russian Oil Not the Issue, Dialogue Is

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar concluded a landmark bilateral visit to Kyiv on Thursday, where he met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha. The visit, the first dedicated bilateral trip by an Indian External Affairs Minister to Ukraine, came just days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged Russian President Vladimir Putin to move from an "endless war" to an "end of war."

At a media briefing, Jaishankar defended India's continued purchase of Russian oil, arguing that the conflict would not be resolved by trade embargoes. "This conflict... will not dissolve because somebody is buying or not buying oil," he said, emphasizing that the path to peace lies in "dialogue, by diplomacy, by negotiations." He framed India's energy purchases as a necessity for its 1.4 billion citizens, while respecting Ukraine's position on the matter.

Jaishankar reiterated India's readiness to assist in ending the war. "If India can be of any help in any manner, we are ready," he stated, noting that his discussions with Sybiha centered on this core message. He also highlighted concerns over attacks on commercial shipping, which have impacted Indian seafarers and contributed to global fuel and food shortages, particularly affecting the Global South.

Ukrainian leaders welcomed India's stance. Sybiha acknowledged Modi's call for an end to the war, stating that Ukraine "stands ready for diplomacy." Zelenskyy thanked India for its commitment to ending the "unjust war," while also noting that Russian drone attacks continued even during the Minister's visit.

Beyond the conflict, both sides discussed strengthening bilateral ties across sectors like pharmaceuticals, agriculture, and technology. Jaishankar invited Sybiha to India for the next Intergovernmental Commission meeting, signaling a push to deepen cooperation despite the ongoing war.