Jaishankar meets Lavrov in Atlanta, sets out India's three points on Ukraine war

External Affairs Minister Dr S. Jaishankar met Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Atlanta in the United States on the sidelines of the G20 foreign ministers' meeting. The two held detailed discussions on the crisis in Ukraine, rising tensions in the Gulf region and other important issues related to international security.

The meeting was held in Atlanta on October 30 and 31 under the hosting of US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The world was watching this bilateral meeting on the margins of the conference. The long-running war between Russia and Ukraine has hit global supply chains, food security and fuel prices hard.

Mr Jaishankar said Russia, Europe and Ukraine had been spoken to about three aspects of the current conflict. The first concerns sea trade routes. India's firm position is that civilian ships, merchant vessels and the sailors working on them should not be attacked under any circumstances. He said pressure on international trade would ease only if maritime trade remained safe.

The second point concerns grain exports through the Black Sea. Russia and Ukraine are both major exporters of grain, especially wheat, to the global market. Military operations in the Black Sea have badly slowed grain shipments there, and many developing and poor countries now face a serious food crisis. Restoring these exports is the second part of India's approach.

The third point is stopping attacks on energy facilities. Mr Jaishankar said: "Not attacking energy infrastructure is perhaps the most complicated subject, because it means different things to different parties. For some, infrastructure may mean a refinery, while for others it may be a power grid or ships carrying fuel. India is therefore trying to bring all the parties concerned together on these issues and work out a comprehensive solution."

The External Affairs Minister said India had kept up talks with everyone in these efforts, not with just one side. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had held detailed talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in New Delhi and earlier in Bishkek. Mr Jaishankar had visited Moscow earlier, and the subject was now discussed again with Mr Lavrov in Atlanta. He had also visited Kyiv earlier, and contact with Ukrainian officials continues.

As the United States is itself working on a peace mediation initiative, India is also coordinating with the American administration. Mr Rubio has been briefed in detail on these developments and on India's efforts. Mr Jaishankar also said that, as the process is at a very sensitive stage, it would not be appropriate to make all the details public.

If Russia and Ukraine agree on these three points, problems such as soaring fuel prices and food shortages in the global market could see immediate relief. Prime Minister Modi had earlier stated firmly that "this is not an era of war", and the same position has now been put forward more clearly at the Atlanta meeting.