Kremlin welcomes India's readiness to contribute
Moscow has voiced appreciation for New Delhi's stated willingness to play a practical role in attempts to bring the Ukraine conflict to an end, after media reports said India had put forward a fresh peace plan consisting of three parts. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov spoke about the matter on Wednesday when asked about those reports. His remarks followed comments days earlier by Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, who described India's ceasefire proposal as the most comprehensive of four offers Kyiv has received.[S1][S2][S3][S4][S6]
According to the state-run TASS news agency, Peskov stated that India is signalling its readiness to contribute in a workable way to settling the situation around Ukraine, and that Moscow feels thankful toward its Indian friends for that readiness as well as for the ideas they have put forward. Peskov had likewise said the previous month that Russia would look favourably on Indian peace initiatives, noting that Moscow's stance matched New Delhi's stress on dialogue and diplomacy.[S1]
Ukraine calls India's offer the broadest of four
Speaking to reporters in Kyiv on Friday, Sybiha said four proposals had reached Ukraine, coming from India, Turkiye, Egypt and the US. India's was the most comprehensive of them, he said, adding that Ukraine would accept a ceasefire covering energy and the Black Sea, but solely as a combined package, the European Pravda newspaper reported. Ukraine's updated stance emerged as Russian strikes on the country grew more intense.[S1]
According to Sybiha, Ukraine would consent to a ceasefire only if it extended beyond fighting to encompass strikes on energy and port facilities as well as the Black Sea situation. The Black Sea ranks among the most hazardous commercial shipping areas globally, with Russian and Ukrainian missile and drone attacks hitting ports, infrastructure and merchant ships. Sybiha has also restated Ukraine's demand for an unconditional truce along the front line, a step Moscow has turned down, arguing instead for a comprehensive peace agreement.[S1]
Putin praises Modi's ideas as war enters fifth year
Russian President Vladimir Putin said last week that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has offered strong ideas for a mutual settlement of the conflict. Addressing the Valdai International Discussion Club's annual gathering on Thursday, Putin described Modi as among the world leaders who, notwithstanding warm personal ties, keeps raising the question of how to end the Ukraine conflict. Putin said Modi brings the matter up at every meeting and shows real interest, offering sound ideas for mutually acceptable solutions, TASS reported.[S1]
Before last month's BRICS summit in New Delhi, Putin and Modi met for talks in which the Russian leader updated the Prime Minister on the Ukraine conflict and the peace efforts under way. The Russia-Ukraine war has now entered its fifth year, leaving thousands of civilians dead and millions uprooted, while Moscow and Kyiv keep discussing possible conditions for a ceasefire and a wider peace settlement.[S1]
