Kyiv: During his meeting with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Thursday, external affairs minister S Jaishankar acknowledged Kyiv’s concerns over India continuing to purchase Russian oil, but said that the energy requirements of 1.4 billion people have to be met.
New Delhi has legitimate energy requirements Jaishankar said during the meeting in which bilateral ties between India and Ukraine were discussed. The two leaders also discussed ways to end the Russia-Ukraine war.
“The challenges are in providing energy for 1.4 billion people at a time when world energy situation is very very difficult. Ukraine side has its perspective and we respect it….This conflict, which is today in its fifth year, will not be solved because somebody is buying or not buying oil or alumina or minerals or metals or fertiliser. This conflict will be solved by dialogue, diplomacy, and negotiation. That is why, it is something we would encourage”, Jaishankar said, as reported by News18.
New Delhi has consistently maintained that any decision on the country’s energy requirements will solely be based on its national interests, despite pressure from the United States and European nations to stop Russian oil purchases.
On the issue of the ongoing conflict, the Indian external affairs minister echoed New Delhi’s long-standing stance of dialogue and diplomacy and said: “This conflict will be solved by dialogue, by diplomacy, by negotiation, and that is why it is something we would encourage.”
“India has consistently maintained that this is not an era of war, and that solutions will not emerge from the battlefield”, he added.
Zelenskyy thanked India for extending commitment to ending the war.
“Held a meeting with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of India, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar. We discussed important issues. We are grateful to India for its desire to end this unjust war-the war of Russia against Ukraine. This time must certainly not be a time of war. Peace is needed. This is India’s clear position”, he posted on X.
He discussed the situation in the Black Sea with Jaishankar, including the recent attack on Indian seafarers, the Ukrainian president said.
There have been attacks on commercial ships with Indian seafarers on board in the Black Sea over the last few months. Several Indian seafarers have been killed, while others were injured.
“Of course, we discussed the situation in the Black Sea, including the existing threats to civilian shipping. We agree that it is absolutely unacceptable to block the supply of food to those regions where it is highly sensitive and people depend on the relevant sea routes. Russian actions aimed at blocking our ports, our grain corridor, and our supplies are indeed injecting major disruption into global relations. We need to work together to ensure security. Thank you!” Zelenskyy said.