National Security Advisor Ajit Doval stated at a conference in Jeddah that dialogue and diplomacy are the only path forward for a peaceful and long-lasting resolution to the Ukraine issue and that all states must “without exception” uphold sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Top security officials from almost 40 countries attended the two-day meeting that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman held to discuss methods to resolve the conflict in Ukraine. Among them were US NSA Jake Sullivan and China’s Special Envoy for Eurasian Affairs Li Hui.
Russia was not given a vote invitation.
In his speech on Saturday, Mr. Doval stated that India will continue to be a proactive and willing partner in resolving the issue and that nothing would make New Delhi happier and more content than a successful resolution.
People with knowledge of the discussions claimed that Mr. Doval also stated that all stakeholder-involved peace initiatives must be undertaken in order to achieve a fair and lasting solution, and that it is in this spirit that India participated in the meeting in Jeddah.
Regarding the effects of the conflict, he claimed that the Global South, in particular, is suffering the most.
Since the start of the war, India has routinely communicated with both Russia and Ukraine at the highest levels, and New Delhi supports a world order based on values entrenched in the UN Charter and international law, he added.
The NSA specifically highlighted that all governments must uphold sovereignty and territorial integrity without exception. He added that this is the only path towards peace and that this has been and always will be New Delhi’s strategy.
Regarding the meeting’s dual task of resolving the issue and easing its effects, Mr. Doval stated that efforts must be made on both fronts at once, and that much more preparation is required to make this happen.
To end the violence, a number of peace offers have recently been made. The NSA stated that the main issue that requires attention is if it is possible to find a solution that is agreeable to all pertinent stakeholders.
The NSA added that India helps its neighbours in the Global South economically while also offering humanitarian aid to Ukraine.
The 10-point “peace plan” put forth by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for resolving the conflict includes punishing those accountable for war crimes, removing all Russian forces from Ukraine, and reestablishing his nation’s territorial integrity. He also advocated for guaranteeing nuclear safety, food security, and energy security as part of the plan.
Arindam Bagchi, a spokesman for the External Affairs Ministry, stated on Thursday that India’s attendance at the summit would be consistent with its long-standing stance that dialogue and diplomacy are the best ways to address the Ukraine situation.
India has underlined that diplomacy and communication are the only ways to end the Ukraine conflict.
On September 16, during a private meeting in the uzbek city of Samarkand, Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged Russian President Vladimir Putin to put an end to the fighting by stating, “Today’s era is not one of war.”
PM Modi and Mr. Zelenskyy spoke face-to-face in May during the G7 conference in Hiroshima.
The Prime Minister assured the Ukrainian leader that India will make every effort to resolve the problem during the meeting.
Mr. Zelenskyy, for his part, gave the Indian side a thorough explanation of his peace plan and pleaded with Delhi to assist in putting it into action.
