VOI World/ Desk
India has said it is ready to help in all efforts to end the war in Ukraine, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar said during his visit to Kyiv, where he held talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha.
Jaishankar’s visit marks the first-ever standalone bilateral visit by an Indian External Affairs Minister to Ukraine. The visit came days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged Russian President Vladimir Putin to move from an “endless war” towards an end to the conflict.
Speaking after his meeting with Sybiha, Jaishankar reiterated India’s long-standing position that the conflict can only be resolved through dialogue, diplomacy and negotiations.
“If India can be of any help, in any manner, we are there,” he said.
The discussions covered peace efforts, the security situation in the Black Sea, freedom of navigation and global food security. Jaishankar also raised concerns over attacks on commercial shipping and their wider impact on global supply chains.
The visit came amid continued Russian attacks on Ukrainian cities. Jaishankar expressed condolences over the deaths caused by recent strikes, including that of an Indian national.
Jaishankar later met Zelenskyy and discussed approaches to ending the conflict, along with ways to deepen India-Ukraine bilateral cooperation.
“Pleased to call on President Zelenskyy today. Apprised him of discussions with FM Andrii Sybiha on deepening our bilateral cooperation. Our conversation centered on approaches to end the ongoing conflict,” Jaishankar said.
Zelenskyy thanked India for its efforts to bring an end to the war and reiterated that peace was needed.
“We are grateful to India for its desire to end this unjust war,” Zelenskyy said, adding that the current period “must not be a time of war”.
The Ukrainian President said the two sides also discussed the situation in the Black Sea, including threats to civilian shipping and disruptions to food supplies. He stressed the need to ensure freedom of navigation and prevent disruptions to grain routes and global food security.
Jaishankar and Sybiha also discussed strengthening bilateral ties, including trade, investment and business cooperation. Ukraine said it was interested in greater participation by Indian companies in its reconstruction efforts.
Bilateral trade between India and Ukraine currently stands at around $2.6 billion, with both sides identifying significant potential for growth. Energy, infrastructure, transport, agriculture, pharmaceuticals, digitalisation and technology were among the sectors discussed for deeper cooperation.
The visit underlined India’s growing diplomatic engagement with Ukraine while maintaining its consistent position that the conflict must be resolved through dialogue and diplomacy rather than on the battlefield.
