EAM Jaishankar discusses Ukraine-Russia conflict solutions amid G20 summit

India had conducted discussions with Russia, Europe and Ukraine about three aspects of the ongoing conflict between the two eastern-European countries, said External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar.

The discussions, according to the minister, aimed to address disruptions in Black Sea shipping as well as bring Russia and Ukraine together to address concerns.

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The discussions were held in the backdrop of the G20 summit held in Atlanta, United States, this year.

Jaishankar said the first priority of the discussions was to stymie the attacks on civilian shipping and seafarers. The second was to deliberate on ways in which grain exports from Ukraine and Russia, who are major suppliers, could be restored after the Black Sea attacks cut trade sharply.

Regarding energy, the EAM said pushing for a cease on attacks on energy installations would be the most complicated manoeuver, noting that stakeholders interpret energy installations differently.

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“To some, it would mean a refinery; to some, it would mean grids,” said Jaishankar, adding that there would be issues related to ships carrying fuel.

The minister said India has been trying to get the warring-states to come together to address these concerns.

Earlier, the EAM had conducted a bilateral meeting with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Atlanta.

Jaishankar, during the meet, emphasised that military solutions cannot resolve global challenges and diplomacy must be allowed to settle such matters.

The minister pressed for the need to end practices such as market flooding, weaponisation of supply chains, market access restrictions and artificial distortions which stifled the ability of developing nations to industrialise.

He also noted that the Global South bore an unfair share of the conflict’s fallout, with attacks on civilian shipping and seafarers, which jeopardised their access to fuel, food and agricultural nutrients.

(With inputs from ANI)