External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov on Tuesday held a comprehensive discussion during which the “Ukraine conflict was a dominant feature”. Sharing his India’s position at the meeting, EAM Jaishankar recalled Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s words: “This is not an era of war”. PM Modi had conveyed it to President Vladimir Putin in Samarkand in September. “India strongly reiterates the need for return to dialogue,” Jaishankar said.
Jaishankar is currently visiting Moscow for bilateral dialogues with Russia.
A press statement of Jaishankar issued by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said, “The Ukraine conflict was a dominant feature, although we will continue to have discussions on it. Let me take this opportunity to lay out the Indian position on this matter. As Prime Minister Narendra Modi conveyed to President Putin in Samarkand in September, this is not an era of war. The global economy is simply too interdependent for significant conflict anywhere not to have major consequences elsewhere.”
Sources told The Daily Guardian that reminding Lavrov about PM Modi’s telephonic talks with Putin and Ukraine President, Jaishankar said that diplomacy and talks are the only way to resolve the crisis.
Jaishankar said India is on the “side of peace”, and repeated PM Modi’s words that “this is not the time for war”
He said on behalf of global south, India counsels a return to dialogue and diplomacy.