India seeking bigger role in effort to end Russia-Ukraine war

India has begun to participate more actively in diplomatic efforts to end the Russian-Ukrainian war, and is in talks with both Kyiv and Moscow. Among the issues discussed are the security of shipping in the Black Sea, energy supplies, and a possible mutual halt to certain types of attacks.

This was stated by Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, reports Bloomberg.

According to the head of the Indian Foreign Ministry, in recent months New Delhi has moved from general calls for peace to more direct involvement in negotiations.

Initially, the Indian side focused on the security of shipping in the Black Sea. Later, in contacts with Ukraine and Russia, energy supplies began to be discussed, as well as the possibility of agreements on the non-use of force against certain categories of targets.

Jaishankar stressed that India supports direct dialogue and considers diplomacy a necessary condition for ending the war.

New Delhi's intensification comes after several years of India's cautious stance. The country supported calls for a cessation of hostilities, but avoided directly condemning Russia and repeatedly abstained on UN resolutions related to the war.

At the same time, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has in recent months publicly called on Russian President Vladimir Putin to move toward ending the war. In late August, at a meeting on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit, he again said there was a need to transition to a diplomatic settlement.

Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha also previously spoke about India's readiness to play a more prominent role. As reported by The Indian Express, Kyiv received four initiatives for a possible ceasefire — from India, the United States, Turkey and Egypt.

Sybiha called the Indian proposal the broadest of those presented. It covers the situation in the Black Sea, energy infrastructure and a possible ceasefire. Ukraine, according to him, is ready to consider agreements on the condition that not only combat operations but also attacks on energy and port facilities are stopped.

At the same time, India maintains close economic and defense ties with Russia. Moscow remains one of the major suppliers of weapons for the Indian army, and after the start of the full-scale war, India significantly increased purchases of Russian oil.

The United States in recent years has tried to persuade New Delhi to reduce its energy dependence on Russia. However, according to Bloomberg, after a temporary decline in supplies, India's purchases of Russian oil have begun to grow again amid the war in the Middle East.

Thus, New Delhi is trying to use its relations simultaneously with Moscow, Kyiv and Western countries to participate more actively in the search for a possible model to end the war, while not giving up its traditionally close partnership with Russia.