Russia-Ukraine conflict: India remains active, willing partner to find solution, says NSA Ajit Doval in Jeddah summit

The NSA during the meeting said India has regularly engaged both Russia and Ukraine since the beginning of the conflict at the highest levels. He said the country supports the global order based on principles enshrined in UN Charter and international law. -- Reports Chandrakala Choudhary

New Delhi: National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval on Saturday said India remains an active, willing partner to find a lasting, comprehensive solution to the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

National Security Advisor Ajit Doval arrived in Jeddah to participate at the NSA level NSA-level Ukraine hosted by Saudi Arabia to discuss the Russia- Ukraine conflict. The meeting, hosted by Saudi Arabia, is an attempt by Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman to act as a mediator to resolve the dispute and end the conflict which started in February last year.

The NSA during the meeting said India has regularly engaged both Russia and Ukraine since the beginning of the conflict at the highest levels. He said the country supports the global order based on principles enshrined in UN Charter and international law. "Respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity by all states must be upheld without exception," he added.

As per the NSA, all peace efforts involving all stakeholders must be pursued to find a just and enduring solution to the conflict. He said the whole world and especially Global South is bearing the brunt of the situation. India is providing both humanitarian assistance to Ukraine and economic assistance to its neighbours in Global South.

India's approach to the Russia-Ukraine conflict has been and always will be to promote dialogue and diplomacy. This is the only way forward for peace, the NSA highlighted.

Commenting on the significance of the meeting, Prof Harsh V Pant, Vice President, Studies at Observer Research Foundation, New Delhi said, "The summit underscores the growing discontent in a large part of the world about the continuing war in Ukraine and its wide wide-ranging consequences on the global economy, especially how the poorest and most vulnerable parts of the world are suffering. Saudi Arabia also wants to showcase that it has ties with both Russia and Ukraine and that it can perhaps help in taking this conflict to a closure.

"Saudi Arabia has been a country that has stood with Russia, cutting oil production and making the energy cost high, which benefitted Moscow but at the same time, Saudis have also been part of the UNSC resolution that had denounced the Ukraine war. The Saudis have played carefully and this summit would demonstrate its credential as a serious global player. And the fact that countries like India and China participated, indicates that Saudi Arabia can bring various stakeholders together for discussing the consequences of the conflict that seems open-ended", Harsh V Pant said.

On Thursday, the Ministry of External Affairs confirmed that New Delhi will participate in the meeting in Jeddah. India’s “participation is in consonance with our long-standing position that dialogue and diplomacy is the way forward,” MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said. Doval was on Saturday welcomed at the Jeddah Airport by the Indian Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Suhel Khan and Consul General Mohammed Shahid Alam.

After attending a meeting in Copenhagen on the Ukraine conflict, the meeting in Jeddah is the second such meeting India is attending that aims to resolve the ongoing conflict. India has so far maintained a consistent policy on Ukraine and reiterated that 'diplomacy is the means through which conflict should be resolved'.