External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Monday had a telephonic conversation with Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, in what the latter termed the “first call in 2024”. It comes in the wake of Jaishankar’s visit to Russia from December 25-29, 2023.
Kuleba briefed Jaishankar on the intensifying Russia-Ukraine conflict, emphasising on discussions on cooperation centred around a “Peace Formula”.
Ukraine is preparing to host a pivotal global ‘peace summit’ in February 2024, seeking worldwide endorsement for President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s 10-point peace plan. The plan includes key provisions such as reinstating Ukraine’s territorial integrity, complete withdrawal of Russian troops, ensuring vital supplies, nuclear safety, and release of all prisoners.
In the course of their conversation, India and Ukraine agreed to schedule the first meeting of the India-Ukraine Inter-Governmental Commission shortly. The last session of this commission was held in Kyiv in February 2018, focusing on trade, economic, scientific, technical, industrial and cultural cooperation between both nations.
A useful conversation with FM @DmytroKuleba of Ukraine today. Discussed advancing our bilateral cooperation in the year ahead. Exchanged views on the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) January 3, 2024
Jaishankar tweeted about the dialogue, highlighting that discussions were related to enhancing bilateral cooperation and exchanging perspectives on the conflict in Ukraine. India, advocating for a halt in hostilities between Russia and Ukraine, emphasises the significance of “dialogue and diplomacy” as the sole pathway to resolving the conflict, which will soon mark its second anniversary.
During his meeting with Jaishankar, Russian President Vladimir Putin acknowledged PM Narendra Modi’s persistent efforts to resolve the conflict through peaceful means. Putin affirmed, “I have repeatedly informed him about the situation around this conflict. I know about his striving to resolve this problem through peaceful means.”
The EAM, during his recent Russia visit, held a comprehensive exchange of views on bilateral cooperation in trade and economy, energy, defence, connectivity, cultural and people-to-people exchanges between the two countries. India and Russia also signed three documents relating to the Kudan Kulam Nuclear Power Plants, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on cooperation in pharmaceuticals and healthcare and a Protocol on Foreign Office during the visit.
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