India Seeks Practical Steps to Shield Global Trade From War
Atlanta, November 1 - As the Russia-Ukraine war continues to ripple across the world, India is holding talks with both countries and Europe on three specific issues. The aim is to limit the conflict's global effects, according to External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, who spoke on Saturday.
The three areas are protecting civilian ships and seafarers from attack, restarting grain exports through the Black Sea, and identifying a path to avoid strikes on energy infrastructure.
Jaishankar made these remarks to Indian reporters at the close of the G20 Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Atlanta. He said India is working to identify realistic solutions that protect ordinary people, global commerce, and the supply of food and energy, even while fighting continues.
He explained that India has raised these matters with Russia, Ukraine and European countries. The first point is that merchant ships and sailors should not be targeted. The second is the need to find a way to restore grain exports from both Russia and Ukraine, since traffic in the Black Sea has declined significantly. The third concerns energy.
The energy dimension, he said, is probably the most difficult. Different parties see energy infrastructure in different ways. Some view oil refineries as energy assets, while others consider power grids to be the key targets. Concerns about vessels carrying fuel also need attention. He said India is trying to bring all the parties to the table.
The grain question carries special weight for India because it affects developing nations that depend on Black Sea supplies for food. Jaishankar said the issue is a major concern for the Global South, as many of the largest buyers are from the developing world.
India has preserved high-level engagement with both capitals. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has spoken with President Vladimir Putin in Delhi and earlier in Bishkek. Jaishankar has visited Moscow and Kyiv and has maintained dialogue with leaders on both sides.
New Delhi has also informed Washington about its efforts. According to Jaishankar, the United States has its own peace mediation initiative, and India is coordinating with it. He said Marco Rubio, the US Secretary of State, is broadly aware of the discussions.
Jaishankar did not provide specifics on how the talks are progressing or what breakthroughs may be possible. He said he could not make those details public right now.
At the G20 meeting, India emphasized that the two major conflicts with far-reaching global consequences cannot be solved militarily and require diplomacy. He said India is taking an active role in that effort.
On the sidelines, Jaishankar held talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. He later wrote on the social media platform X that the discussion covered the Ukraine conflict, the situation in the Gulf region and multilateral issues.