On Sunday, India was among the nations that chose not to sign a joint communique at the peace summit for Ukraine hosted by Switzerland. Despite this, India emphasised the need for "sincere and practical engagement" between Russia and Ukraine to achieve a peaceful resolution to the ongoing conflict.
Pavan Kapoor, Secretary (West) in the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), represented India at the summit held in the Swiss resort of Burgenstock. The event saw participation from delegates of over 100 countries and organisations, including several heads of state. Notably, Russia was not invited, and China decided not to attend.
India maintained that it would not associate itself with any communique or document arising from the summit, asserting that only options acceptable to both parties involved could lead to lasting peace.
In his address, Kapoor stated that India's participation in the summit and previous meetings based on Ukraine's peace formula aligns with India's consistent approach that enduring peace can only be achieved through dialogue and diplomacy.
He reiterated India's belief in the importance of involving all stakeholders in the peace process and fostering sincere engagement between the conflicting parties.
"We continue to engage with all stakeholders as well as the two parties to the conflict to contribute to all earnest efforts to achieve lasting peace in Ukraine," Kapoor said.
India's goal in participating in the summit was to understand various perspectives, approaches, and options to find a sustainable resolution to the conflict. Kapoor emphasised that only those options acceptable to both parties could lead to abiding peace. Therefore, India chose to abstain from associating with the joint communique or any other documents from the summit.
The 'Summit on Peace in Ukraine,' which concluded on Sunday, aimed to inspire future peace processes. The Indian delegation attended both the opening and closing plenary sessions of the summit.
Kapoor highlighted India's support for global efforts to facilitate a peaceful resolution to the situation in Ukraine. He noted that India's participation in the summit and preceding meetings based on Ukraine's Peace Formula reflects its belief that enduring peace can only be achieved through dialogue and diplomacy.
In the joint communique issued at the end of the summit, the signatories reaffirmed their commitment to the principles of sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity of all states, including Ukraine, within their internationally recognized borders. A statement from the Swiss foreign ministry noted that 83 states and organisations approved the joint communique.
Following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has communicated with both Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on multiple occasions. India has not condemned the Russian invasion but has consistently advocated for resolving the crisis through diplomacy and dialogue.
At the summit, President Zelenskyy sought support for his 10-point peace plan, first outlined in 2022. He emphasised the inclusivity of the peace formula and encouraged active participation from all represented regions.
The peace summit built on previous discussions based on Ukraine's Peace Formula and other peace proposals. During a recent meeting with President Zelenskyy at the G7 summit in Italy, Prime Minister Modi conveyed India's commitment to supporting a peaceful resolution to the Ukraine conflict through dialogue and diplomacy.
India's approach remains centred on a "human-centric" perspective, advocating for peaceful conflict resolution through continued dialogue and diplomacy.
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