EU Officials Seek India’s Greater Role To Defuse Ukraine Crisis

Even as Russia launched a wide-ranging attack on Ukraine, hitting cities and bases with airstrikes, the world expects India to play a significant role in defusing the crisis and tension between both the countries. Ukraine Ambassador to India, Dr Igor Polikha urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to intervene to “somehow influence Russian President Vladimir Putin, to defuse the crisis”. Soon thereafter, a top European Union official reached out to External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar expecting India’s global role in de-escalating the crisis.

Jaishankar tweeted that he received a call from Josep Borrell Fontelles, High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/Vice-President of the EU Commission. The two leaders discussed the prevailing situation in Ukraine and discussed how India could contribute to de-escalation efforts. “Received a call from EU HRVP @JosepBorrellF. Discussed the grave situation in Ukraine and how India could contribute to de-escalation efforts,” he tweeted.

Jaishankar also got a call from UK Foreign Secretary Liz Truss. Both the ministers discussed the Ukraine crisis amid the Russian attacks. Sources told The Daily Guardian that “the UK foreign secretary urged Jaishankar to speak to his counterpart in Russia so as to find a way out of this crisis.” “Jaishankar reiterated India’s stand, saying that war is not an option and the crisis should be resolved through diplomacy and dialogue,” sources said.

Highly-placed sources in the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) told The Daily Guardian that India is doing whatever it can to ensure that the tension between Russia and Ukraine could be defused immediately. “Diplomatic channels are active under the close monitoring at South Block. High level meetings have taken place and reports have been given directly to the Prime Minister,” sources said.

All the envoys of the G-7 countries—Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the US—held a meeting in New Delhi and discussed the Ukraine situation. The Ukraine Ambassador to India was also with them in the meeting. “All of them also spoke to Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla, expecting India’s contribution to the ongoing de-escalation efforts,” sources said. At the United Nations, India expressed deep concern and called for de-escalation of hostilities, saying unless it is checked, it can “spiral into a major crisis” that can severely destabilize the region. India’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, T.S. Tirumurti said, “We call for immediate de-escalation and refraining from any further action that could contribute to a worsening of the situation”.

Sources said, “French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris had also discussed the Ukraine crisis with Jaishankar in an important meeting a day earlier. “French president underlined the importance of India’s role in defusing the crisis resulting from the heightened Russia-Ukraine conflict,” sources said. The French President also briefed Jaishankar on Paris’ engagement in a heavy diplomatic effort to defuse simmering tensions between Russia and Ukraine.