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Jaishankar said the “ongoing conversations” have also expanded to immediate concerns shared by Russia and Ukraine, including grain and energy exports.
Jaishankar said India is now in direct conversations with both Moscow and Kyiv, focusing on Black Sea shipping, grain and energy exports, and possible non-attack arrangements. (IMAGE: ANI)
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Sunday publicly acknowledged that India has moved beyond merely “advocating” peace and diplomacy between Russia and Ukraine, saying New Delhi has in recent months held conversations with both sides as it seeks to help end the war.
“We have been advocating it for many years, and in recent months we have got a little bit more involved beyond advocacy. We have conversations with both Russia and Ukraine in this regard,” Jaishankar said while addressing attendees at the Munich Leaders Meeting in New Delhi, a satellite event associated with the Munich Security Conference.
“We are trying to be helpful, starting with the Black Sea, [the] safety of shipping issue,” he added.
Jaishankar said the “ongoing conversations” have also expanded to immediate concerns shared by Russia and Ukraine, including grain exports, energy exports and “non-attack possibilities”.
The disclosure comes days after Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said India’s proposal for a ceasefire was the “most comprehensive” among four proposals received by Kyiv. Sybiha said Ukraine was prepared to consider an energy and Black Sea truce, provided it covered attacks on energy and port infrastructure as well as the situation in the Black Sea.
“We have four proposals. The most comprehensive is India’s proposal. For the first time, India has signalled its willingness to play a role,” Sybiha stated, as reported by RBC-Ukraine.
Russian President Vladimir Putin, meanwhile, said earlier this week that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has “excellent ideas” when it comes to finding mutually acceptable solutions to the conflict.
At A Glance
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar stated India is now more involved in conversations with Russia and Ukraine to end the war.
Jaishankar mentioned India is trying to be helpful, starting with the Black Sea and shipping safety.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha called India’s ceasefire proposal the “most comprehensive” among four received by Kyiv.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has “excellent ideas” for finding solutions to the conflict.
India’s efforts are focused on practical measures like the safety of commercial shipping, grain, and energy movement in the Black Sea.
What Is India’s Peace Initiative On Ukraine?
While Jaishankar did not disclose the full contours of India’s proposal, his remarks indicate that New Delhi’s efforts are focused initially on practical measures that could reduce the immediate fallout of the war.
The Black Sea is central to those efforts, particularly the safety of commercial shipping and the movement of grain and energy. India has also been engaging both Moscow and Kyiv on the possibility of arrangements to prevent attacks, Jaishankar said.
The development marks a step up from India’s longstanding public position that the Russia-Ukraine war must be resolved through dialogue and diplomacy. India has maintained contact with both sides and has repeatedly said it is ready to contribute to efforts to end the conflict.
Modi’s ‘End Of War’ Push
The latest disclosure also comes after a series of high-level engagements by Prime Minister Narendra Modi with both Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Modi discussed the Ukraine war with Putin on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Bishkek in August, where he called for a shift from “endless war” towards an “end of war”. The issue also figured in Modi’s meeting with Zelenskyy on the margins of the G7 Summit in France in June.
Modi and Putin discussed the conflict again last month when the Russian President visited New Delhi for the BRICS Summit. Jaishankar had also travelled to Ukraine earlier in September and reiterated India’s position that the conflict cannot be resolved on the battlefield.
India’s latest push comes as the war, which began in February 2022, enters its fifth year in 2027, with Russia and Ukraine still far apart on the terms of a settlement.
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Ask News18India’s proposal focuses on practical measures to reduce the war’s immediate fallout, centering heavily on the Black Sea, commercial shipping safety, grain and energy exports, and non-attack possibilities.
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Shankhyaneel Sarkar is a chief sub editor at News18. He covers international affairs, where he focuses on breaking news to in-depth analyses. He has over seven years of experience during which he has …Read More
October 04, 2026, 10:13 pm IST
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