India Ready to Offer ‘Any Help’ to End Ukraine-Russia War: Jaishankar

Kyiv: India is ready to extend "any help in any manner" to end the Ukraine-Russia war, which is now in its fifth year, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Thursday as he held wide-ranging talks with his Ukrainian counterpart Andrii Sybiha in Kyiv.

"India has consistently maintained that this is not an era of war, and that solutions will not emerge from the battlefield," he said in a joint press statement alongside Sybiha after their talks.

Jaishankar recalled that Prime Minister Narendra Modi just two days ago declared that endless war must now give way to the end of war during a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Bishkek on the margins of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit.

"Every passing day of conflict only means more deaths and more destruction. 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," he said.

India has been consistently calling for ending the Russia-Ukraine conflict through dialogue and diplomacy.

"In consonance with Prime Minister Modi's call for an end to war, my visit has a focus on the prospects of dialogue and diplomacy. I will be taking back the views and positions shared today by the Ukrainian side," he added.

Jaishankar later called on President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and apprised him of his discussions with the Ukrainian counterpart on deepening bilateral cooperation.

"Our conversation centered on approaches to end the ongoing conflict," said the minister, who had earlier mentioned that he would convey the greetings and good wishes of PM Modi to the President.

Earlier, the Ukrainian foreign minister welcomed PM Modi's call to move from an endless war towards an end to the war, saying his country "stands ready for diplomacy."

"India is a global power and we welcome Prime Minister Modi's call to move from an endless war towards an end to the war," Sybiha said in a post on X.

Jaishankar, who arrived here amid escalating hostilities between Moscow and Kyiv, said his trip has a "bilateral purpose".

"But more important, it takes place in the larger context of the war that has been underway since 2022. Only two days ago, an Indian national was also killed in an attack in Kyiv. We join in mourning every life lost and convey our deepest sympathy to every affected family," he said.

India has also been concerned over a series of attacks on merchant ships in the Black Sea in the last few weeks.

Recalling his multiple interactions with the Ukrainian minister in the last few months, Jaishankar said, "Our conversation today was very free and very open."

"There were also some specific aspects of this conflict that came up in our discussions. Prominent among them was attacks on commercial shipping. Indian seafarers man ships of many flags and have been among the unfortunate casualties," he said.

He said the impact on shipping is also significantly affecting many nations of the Global South in a variety of ways, leading to fuel, fertiliser and food shortages. "So we exchanged views on these and related matters."

He also mentioned India's contribution to humanitarian relief and assistance to Ukraine, including the supply of 19 consignments of humanitarian assistance.

On the bilateral front, Jaishankar said the trade between the two countries spans a wide range of sectors, from pharmaceuticals, food & agriculture and fertilisers to machinery, chemicals and consumer goods.

"Understandably, in the last four years, this trade has seen some disruption due to the war situation and logistical challenges. At the same time, there has been a visible resilience, and some new possibilities have emerged," he said, adding that they will address the challenges.

"We are very much aware that Ukraine has deep strengths and capabilities. India too is developing at a rapid pace. And some of these notable areas of progress are in digital capabilities, innovation and startups. The world of AI offers new openings in health, education, agriculture, even in governance," he said.

Jaishankar invited Sybiha to visit India at his convenience for the next meeting of the Intergovernmental Commission.

"A pleasure to meet with FM @andrii_sybiha of Ukraine here in Kyiv. Thank him and his team for the hospitality extended. Was updated on the recent developments in the ongoing conflict and peace negotiations," Jaishankar later said in a post on X.

"Conveyed the need to ensure the safety & security of commercial shipping and seafarers. Also discussed ways to further strengthen our bilateral relationship, including in the fields of education, health, agriculture, digital, innovation, diplomatic training and development cooperation," he added.

He also said that education has been another longstanding area of activity, noting that there are many Indian students currently studying in Ukraine.

In his post on X, Sybiha welcomed Jaishankar to Kyiv for "the first-ever dedicated bilateral visit of an Indian External Affairs Minister to Ukraine."

"This historic moment takes place amid escalating Russian attacks against our cities, port infrastructure, and civil shipping. Our capital is constantly under attack, and I appreciate my colleague's brave visit," he added.

Sybiha said the two sides discussed bilateral cooperation. "From infrastructure and the pharmaceutical sector to technological innovation and digitalisation, we are ready to realise our full potential," he said.

Jaishankar concluded his visit by paying homage to Mahatma Gandhi at the National Botanical Garden in Kyiv. "His life and message underline the need to move from endless war to the end of war," the minister added.