New Delhi, Nov. 10 -- India has stepped up diplomatic engagement with Russia and Ukraine, putting forward proposals covering the safety of commercial shipping in the Black Sea, uninterrupted grain and energy supplies, and possible non-attack arrangements, as Moscow and Kyiv began a fresh round of US-mediated peace negotiations in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday.
New Delhi confirmed that it has been discussing specific measures with both sides and other interested parties, with conversations taking place at the highest diplomatic level. The disclosure comes amid renewed efforts to find a way out of the nearly five-year conflict, which has disrupted international food and energy supplies.
At a media briefing on Tuesday, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said India had been pursuing initiatives aimed at creating conditions for peace rather than limiting itself to calls for dialogue. "In keeping with this idea to bring peace, India has been engaged both sides with certain ideas such as safety of shipping in the Black Sea, addressing immediate concerns of Russia and Ukraine on grain and energy exports, and non-attack possibilities," Jaiswal said.
He added that New Delhi remained in contact with both countries as well as other stakeholders to explore ways of contributing to a peaceful settlement.
"On the issue of food corridor, we have exchanged ideas. India remains in touch with both sides, as well as other interested parties, to contribute towards return of peace to the region," he said.
The latest diplomatic activity followed a telephone conversation between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Monday. The two leaders discussed the conflict, its humanitarian consequences and ongoing initiatives to restore peace.
Modi conveyed India's readiness to contribute to efforts aimed at ending the hostilities, reiterating New Delhi's commitment to a peaceful resolution.
"India has consistently maintained that dialogue and diplomacy are the way forward. In recent months, the prime minister has expressed that 'endless war to must give way to end of war'," Jaiswal said.
The Prime Minister also reiterated India's "firm commitment to contributing in every possible way towards a peaceful resolution".
Zelenskyy subsequently indicated that Ukraine wanted India to play a role in addressing the disruption of grain shipments through the Black Sea. He said the two leaders had discussed Russia's restrictions on grain exports and the possibility of establishing food corridors with India's assistance.
"We discussed Russia's blocking of grain exports via the Black Sea. India is ready to mediate in establishing food corridors, and we are counting on these efforts to continue," the Ukrainian president said.
Separately, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar spoke to Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov about the conflict and the diplomatic initiatives under way to resolve it. The conversations with the two foreign ministers and the leaders of both countries reflect India's continuing engagement with Moscow and Kyiv.
New Delhi's efforts have been building over recent months. In September, Modi met Russian President Vladimir Putin in Bishkek and called for an immediate end to the conflict, urging him to move away from an 'endless war towards the end of war'. Days later, Jaishankar visited Kyiv, where he met Zelenskyy and Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha.
In October, Sybiha acknowledged that Ukraine had received separate ceasefire proposals from India, Egypt, Turkey and the United States. He described India's proposal as the most comprehensive among those received.
"The most comprehensive is India's proposal," Sybiha said.
Russian President Vladimir Putin also acknowledged Modi's diplomatic initiatives, saying the Indian Prime Minister had "excellent ideas" for finding a mutually acceptable solution.
Reports in October indicated that India's proposed three-part arrangement sought to halt attacks on energy facilities and other critical infrastructure, prevent strikes on commercial vessels in the Black Sea, and maintain the movement of grain and energy supplies through regional ports.
The proposals have a direct bearing on India's economic and maritime interests. Disruptions to Black Sea shipping have endangered Indian seafarers and affected the movement of essential commodities.
According to casualty figures released by Jaiswal on November 3, five Indian seafarers had been killed and two remained missing in attacks linked to the conflict.
India's energy requirements also form part of the wider picture. The country imported approximately 1.97 million barrels of Russian crude oil per day in October, accounting for around 35 per cent of its total oil imports, according to commodity intelligence firm Kpler.
The disruption of shipping and essential supplies has also affected countries dependent on imported food and fuel, particularly across the Global South.
Meanwhile, the United States, Russia and Ukraine began trilateral negotiations in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday, November 10, with discussions scheduled to continue on Wednesday. These were the first US-brokered trilateral negotiations since talks broke down in February.
The American delegation includes US President Donald Trump's envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner.
The discussions cover ending the war, de-escalation, humanitarian measures and post-war security arrangements.
However, fundamental disagreements between Moscow and Kyiv remain. Russia is seeking territorial concessions and restrictions on Ukraine's future military capabilities, while Kyiv has rejected surrendering territory and is seeking credible security guarantees against another Russian attack.
India is not part of the trilateral negotiating table in Abu Dhabi, and neither Russia nor Ukraine has formally accepted its proposed three-part arrangement as a ceasefire framework. Nevertheless, New Delhi has confirmed sustained engagement with both countries and the exchange of specific proposals on maritime security, food supplies and energy exports.
With diplomatic channels open to both Moscow and Kyiv, India is seeking to use its relationships with the two countries to contribute towards de-escalation and a wider peaceful settlement.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.