Minister for External Affairs S. Jaishankar on Wednesday said in the Lok Sabha that the Ukraine-Russia conflict has had significant consequences on the global economy, while the government is taking measures in the national interest to mitigate the impact. He, while explaining India’s stand in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, said that India encourages talks between Kyiv and Moscow,
including at the level of their Presidents. “In terms of diplomacy, India continues to press forcefully for an immediate cessation of hostilities and an end to violence. We encourage talks between Ukraine and Russia, including at the level of their Presidents. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has spoken to both of them in this regard,” Jaishankar said.
The Minister underlined that the conflict has had significant consequences for the global economy, including India’s. Like all other countries, we too are assessing the implications and deciding what is best in our national interest, he added.
Jaishankar further said that New Delhi conveyed the message when Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov was in Delhi that “if India can be of any assistance in this matter, we will be glad to contribute”. Explaining India’s stand over the Russia-Ukraine situation, he said: “What should India do in these circumstances? At a time when energy costs have spiked, we clearly need to ensure that the common person in India is not subjected to additional and unavoidable burden.” He stated that fertilizer prices have a direct implication for the livelihood of the majority of the population, besides food prices. Even the security of the nation is at stake as we maintain our defence posture in the manner that current security challenges warrant, he said. He urged countries to respect the international law, sovereignty and territorial integrity of all States. “This should bear in mind that contemporary global order has been built on UN Charter, on respect for international law, and for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all States. If India has chosen a side, it is for peace while calling for an immediate end to violence,” the EAM said.
Jaishankar also condemned the Bucha killings in Ukraine and supported the call for an independent investigation. Replying to India’s stand on the Russia-Ukraine conflict in the Lower House of Parliament, he said, “Many MPs brought up the incident of killings in Bucha and I want to say that we are deeply disturbed by the reports. We strongly condemn the killings which have taken place there. It’s an extremely serious matter and we support the call for an independent investigation.” Reports have said that more than 300 people have been killed and the total number of casualties was likely to increase as the whole city is being checked. Hundreds of civilian residents were found dead on the streets, beside their homes and in mass graves. Ukraine accused Russia of the Bucha massacre. However, Russia has denied the allegations and said that it was Ukrainian propaganda.
The Bucha killings have drawn criticism of Russia and pledges of further sanctions against Moscow from the West. Jaishankar reiterated that India is strongly against the Russia-Ukraine conflict and suggested in the Lok Sabha that the issue can be resolved through dialogue and diplomacy. “What is India advocating in Ukraine? We are, first and foremost, strongly against conflict. We believe that no solution can be arrived at by shedding blood and at the cost of innocent lives. In this day and age, dialogue and diplomacy are the right answers to any disputes,” said Jaishankar.
Jaishankar said that India was in touch with Ukraine’s neighbouring countries Hungary, Romania, Kazakhstan and Poland to help the evacuated medical students from the war-torn country to pursue their studies. “We have been in touch with Hungary, Romania, Czech Republic, Kazakhstan and Poland (about continuing education for the students evacuated from Ukraine) because they have similar models of education,” he said in the Lok Sabha. Responding to the Opposition’s concerns over the disruption of the studies of the evacuated medical students, Jaishankar said that India is in talks with Poland, Romania, Kazakhstan, and Hungary to find ways to help the affected students complete their education. On the Opposition criticism that the government sent Union ministers to neighbouring countries to gain political mileage, Jaishankar said that the presence of the ministers helped the evacuation process. “Had the four ministers not gone to countries neighbouring Ukraine, India would not have got the same level of cooperation from them, and, in fact, the ministers worked as a team,” he said. Commenting on India’s advisories, Jaishankar said: “Our advisories helped people get updates on which border was open and where to move for them in Ukraine.”