Moscow: Russia has welcomed India’s readiness to contribute to efforts aimed at resolving the Ukraine conflict, with Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov thanking New Delhi for its approach and ideas.
The remarks come days after Ukraine described India’s proposal for a possible ceasefire as the broadest among four proposals received by Kyiv.
What Did Russia Say About India’s Ukraine Peace Proposal?
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Wednesday that India had expressed its readiness to make a “feasible contribution” towards resolving the situation surrounding Ukraine.
He also said Moscow was grateful to its Indian partners for their readiness and the ideas being offered.
The comments mark the latest indication that Russia is taking note of India’s more active engagement on the Ukraine conflict.
What Is India’s 3-Part Proposal For Ukraine?
India has reportedly put forward a three-part truce proposal focused on limiting attacks and protecting the movement of key commodities.
The reported proposal seeks to:
- Halt attacks on energy facilities and other critical infrastructure.
- Keep grain and energy supplies moving through Black Sea ports.
- Stop attacks on commercial shipping in the Black Sea.
The proposal was conveyed to Ukrainian leadership during External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar’s visit to Kyiv in September, according to people familiar with the discussions.
India’s approach therefore goes beyond a ceasefire limited purely to battlefield operations, bringing energy security, trade and maritime safety into the discussion.
Why Did Ukraine Call India’s Proposal The Broadest?
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said Kyiv had received ceasefire proposals from India, Turkey, Egypt and the United States.
He described India’s proposal as the “broadest” and said Ukraine was prepared to consider an energy and Black Sea ceasefire in combination.
Ukraine has also called for an unconditional ceasefire along the frontline, while insisting that any broader arrangement should address attacks on energy and port infrastructure as well as the Black Sea.
Why Is The Black Sea Important In India’s Proposal?
The Black Sea has become a major flashpoint in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, with attacks affecting ports and commercial vessels.
For India, the issue also has an economic dimension because the Black Sea is an important route for Russian energy exports to India. Recent attacks on merchant shipping have disrupted supplies and pushed up freight costs.
Protecting commercial shipping could therefore help reduce risks to both energy and agricultural trade.
What Has PM Modi Said About Ending The Ukraine War?
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has repeatedly advocated dialogue and diplomacy to end the conflict.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said last week that Modi regularly raises the issue of ending the war and has “very good ideas” aimed at finding mutually acceptable solutions.
India’s position has been that dialogue and diplomacy are essential to resolving the conflict.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has also said India has gone beyond simply advocating peace and is now more involved in discussions with both Moscow and Kyiv, including on shipping, grain, energy exports and possible non-attack arrangements.
What Happens Next With India’s Ukraine Peace Proposal?
The response from both Russia and Ukraine will be important as discussions continue.
Ukraine has already publicly described India’s proposal as the most comprehensive among the four ceasefire initiatives it received. Russia has now expressed appreciation for India’s willingness to contribute.
However, there is no indication yet that the reported proposal has resulted in an agreed ceasefire or wider peace settlement.
For now, New Delhi’s role appears focused on facilitating practical measures that could reduce attacks on critical infrastructure and commercial routes while keeping dialogue open between the two sides.
