UNITED NATIONS: India has emphasised the need for dialogue and diplomacy to resolve the ongoing conflict in Ukraine while voicing concern over the conflict's “collateral consequences”, including prices of fuel, saying countries of the Global South have been left to fend for themselves.
India's permanent representative to the UN, P. Harish, expressed support for efforts to end the Ukraine War.
“We endorsed the Summit meeting in Alaska between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. We appreciate the progress made at the Alaska Summit, ” Harish told the General Assembly on Thursday.
Trump and Russia’s President Vladimir Putin met in Alaska on August 15 at the US president’s initiative for peace.
“India welcomes recent positive developments in this direction” towards peace, Harish said.
Harish reiterated India’s offer of peace diplomacy, saying, “India stands ready to support diplomatic efforts for an early end to the conflict”.
He said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s engagement with Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky, Putin, and European leaders promotes the chances of peace.
Zelensky spoke to PM Modi on Saturday before he met with Putin, and the Ukrainian leader said on X that he told him he was ready to meet with the Russian leader.
A meeting between Zelensky and Putin is the next step in the peace plan Trump has outlined, and it has so far been elusive.
“The wholehearted participation and commitment of all stakeholders are critical for lasting peace, ” Harish said during the Assembly’s debate on Ukraine.
He saw promise in Trump’s outreach to Zelensky and his talk with European leaders.
“We also note the subsequent diplomatic efforts by the US President in engaging with the Ukrainian President and European leaders in Washington, ” he said.