Seafarers' security, grain exports: Jaishankar reveals India's three-point discussion on war with Russia, Ukraine and Europe

Jaishankar said India has been calling on the parties to address the issues, which include discussions on protecting seafarers and restoring grain exports. External affairs minister S Jaishankar, who attended the G20 foreign ministers’ meeting on Friday and Saturday in Atlanta, US, said India had discussed three aspects of the Ukraine conflict with Russia, Kyiv and European countries.EAM S Jaishankar during the G20 foreign ministers' meeting, in Atlanta, Georgia, US. (@DrSJaishankar/X)Jaishankar, speaking to news agency ANI, said the discussions covered protecting civilian shipping and seafarers from attacks, restoring grain exports from Russia and Ukraine, and the third aspect was related to energy, which he said was the “most complicated”."Non-attack on energy is probably the most complicated piece because it means different things to the different players. There is energy infrastructure itself. To some, it would mean a refinery; to some, it would mean grids. There would be issues relating to ships carrying fuel,” he added.Jaishankar on India’s concerns over the conflictHe said India has been calling on the parties to address these issues. He added that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had discussed the conflict with Russian President Vladimir Putin during his visit to India in September for the 18th BRICS Summit.“I had gone earlier to Moscow, and even today I discussed it with Mr Lavrov (Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov), and then in between I had gone to Kyiv, and we are in touch with the Ukrainian side. We have also been coordinating this with the Americans because they have their own peace mediation initiative,” he said.Jaishankar and Lavrov held talks on the sidelines of the G20 meeting in Atlanta on the Ukraine conflict, West Asia and broader international issues.Notably, India has continued to engage with Russia and Ukraine through high-level diplomatic meetings and has consistently maintained that dialogue and diplomacy are essential to resolving international conflicts.At the G20 meeting, Jaishankar also called for diplomatic engagement rather than military action, saying that military solutions alone could not resolve complex global challenges.Jaishankar flags Global South's concerns“Emphasised that in the face of global challenges, military solutions will not work and diplomacy must be given a chance,” Jaishankar said in a post on X, outlining points he made during the first plenary session hosted by US secretary of state Marco Rubio.He said the Global South bears an unfair share of the impact of attacks on civilian shipping and seafarers, which threaten the affordability and availability of fuel, food and agricultural nutrients. India has lost 22 nationals, including 14 seafarers, in the West Asia war over the past eight months, the ministry of external affairs said earlier this week.Jaishankar also met Polish deputy prime minister and foreign minister Radoslaw Sikorski and held discussions focused on the Ukraine conflict, India-EU ties and the G20.With inputs from agenciesFollow the latest breaking news, major developments and agenda-setting stories from India and around the world with the newsdesk at Hindustan Times. Operating round the clock, the desk brings together experienced editors, reporters and correspondents to deliver fast, accurate and contextual reporting across subjects that influence public policy, governance, business, society and international affairs. The HT News Desk covers politics, elections, government policies, the economy, business and markets, science and technology, the environment, law and order, infrastructure, education, climate issues and geopolitics, while closely tracking developments across states, institutions and global capitals. The team also leads coverage of major breaking news events, policy announcements, court proceedings, natural disasters, public emergencies and significant international developments. Reports published by the newsdesk are based on information gathered from reporters on the ground, official statements, government agencies, court records, regulatory filings, recognised institutions and other authoritative sources. Stories undergo editorial scrutiny and verification processes to ensure accuracy, fairness and relevance, and are updated as events evolve and additional information becomes available. Whether covering a key political decision in New Delhi, an economic policy shift affecting millions, a landmark court ruling or a major global event, the HT News Desk aims to provide readers with reliable, fact-based journalism that delivers not only the latest developments but also the context and analysis needed to understand their wider implications.Read More