External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has said India remains ready to contribute to efforts aimed at ending the Russia-Ukraine war, as New Delhi steps up diplomatic engagement with both sides of the conflict.
Jaishankar’s remarks come ahead of his visit to Ukraine and Poland from September 3 to 5. During the visit, he is scheduled to hold talks with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha and Polish Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski. The Ministry of External Affairs said the discussions will focus on bilateral relations, regional developments and issues of mutual interest.
The Ukraine visit is particularly significant as it comes shortly after Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Russian President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Bishkek on August 31. During the meeting, Modi urged Putin to move from an “endless war” towards an end to the conflict.
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said Modi had conveyed to Putin that India was prepared to do “whatever is feasible and necessary” to help bring the war to an end. India has consistently maintained that dialogue and diplomacy are the way forward for resolving the conflict.
Ukraine has also been looking towards India’s role in peace efforts. Sergiy Kyslytsya, Ukraine’s first deputy head of the presidential office, recently met India’s ambassador to Kyiv, Anjani Kumar. He said the discussions included India’s potential role in efforts to end Russia’s war against Ukraine and welcomed continued dialogue with New Delhi.
Jaishankar’s current trip is his first standalone visit to Ukraine. He had earlier travelled to the country in August 2024 as part of Prime Minister Modi’s delegation. The visit also comes after an Indian national was killed in a recent Russian aerial attack on Ukraine, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The Indian Embassy in Kyiv has been assisting the victim’s family with the repatriation of the mortal remains.
At the same time, India continues to maintain close relations with Russia. Jaishankar has travelled frequently to Moscow, while Modi and Putin are expected to meet again during the upcoming BRICS summit in India.
New Delhi’s approach has been to maintain communication with both Moscow and Kyiv while pushing for a peaceful settlement. Although India is not currently positioned as a formal mediator, its continued engagement with both sides could provide an avenue for dialogue.
Jaishankar’s Ukraine visit therefore comes at a crucial moment, with India seeking to balance its longstanding relationship with Russia, growing ties with Ukraine and its broader push for a negotiated end to the conflict.
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