Top Indian, German diplomats discuss Ukraine peace efforts

BERLIN

India’s External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar met his German counterpart Annalena Baerbock on Tuesday to discuss international issues and peace efforts to end the war in Ukraine.

Speaking at a news conference in Berlin after the meeting, Jaishankar expressed support for diplomatic efforts to find a solution to the Ukraine conflict, but appeared cautious about a possible mediating role by his country.

“In this conflict, we don't believe that a solution will come from the battlefield, so we do think that negotiations are the only way forward, at some point there has to be negotiations,” he said, adding that Russia should also be included in the process.

Asked whether India was working on a peace proposal of its own, and whether his country could host the next peace summit on Ukraine, he confirmed that there were some suggestions, but did not give any details.

“Suggestions have been made from time to time,” Jaishankar said, adding that India has been one of the participants of this process, starting with the first meeting in Copenhagen last year.

“For us this is not about being seen to do something. We are always open to any step that is serious, that is impactful, and that is in our view a step towards peace,” he added.

His remarks came after German Chancellor Olaf Scholz expressed support for inviting Russia to the second peace conference on Ukraine, which is planned to be held in November. The first peace summit was held in June in Switzerland, without an invitation to Moscow.

“There will definitely be another peace conference, and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and I agree that it must also be the one that would include Russia,” Scholz told public broadcaster ZDF on Sunday, after his meeting with Ukrainian President Zelenskyy.