New Delhi has shown its readiness to contribute to resolving the conflict and put forward its own proposals, the Kremlin spokesman told RT
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov expressed Russia’s gratitude for India’s readiness to make a strong contribution to resolving the Ukraine conflict while speaking to RT, responding to reports of a three-part peace proposal from New Delhi.
”The Indian side is really ready to make a strong contribution” toward resolving the conflict, Peskov said, adding “we are grateful to our Indian friends for such readiness and for those ideas that are being expressed.”
Peskov did not refer directly to Delhi’s reported three-part plan or endorse its individual elements. The conflict is now in its fifth year.
Moscow’s comments follow recent reports in India about New Delhi shifting gears on an issue that has vexed US President Donald Trump and his negotiators for more than two years. Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar said Monday that India has moved beyond simply advocating for peace and is now holding conversations with both Moscow and Kiev.
Indian media have reported, citing diplomatic sources, that New Delhi’s proposal seeks to halt attacks on energy facilities and other infrastructure, keep grain and energy moving through Black Sea ports, and stop strikes on commercial shipping.
It was reportedly discussed during Jaishankar’s visit to Kiev last month. Ukraine has separately acknowledged receiving an Indian ceasefire proposal. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrey Sibiga described it as the “most comprehensive” among the four initiatives received by Kiev, the others being from Türkiye, Egypt, and the US.
The focus on the Black Sea has direct relevance for India. Recent attacks on merchant vessels have not only affected Russian energy and grain flows, they have brought peril and sometimes death to their mostly-Indian crews.
New Delhi’s conversations began with Black Sea shipping safety and have expanded to grain and energy exports and possible agreements on halting attacks, Jaishankar said Monday.
”This will require dialogue and diplomacy. There have to be negotiations,” he said, describing the discussions as ongoing.
Russian President Vladimir Putin praised India’s efforts last week, saying Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi repeatedly brings up ending the conflict and has “very good ideas” to find mutually acceptable solutions. He thanked Modi for his desire to seek an end to the conflict through peaceful means.
The diplomatic engagement comes as India faces growing US pressure over its Russian energy purchases. India-US trade negotiations have hit a “plateau,” while a new US law has raised the prospect of tariffs of up to 100% on Indian goods over continued purchases of Russian oil.
