Berne/New Delhi, June 16 (UNI) Firmly stating that “only those options acceptable to both the parties can lead to abiding peace” in Ukraine, India on Sunday declined to sign any communique or document emerging from the Peace Summit on Ukraine.
Pavan Kapoor, Secretary(West), Ministry of External Affairs, represented India at the Summit on Peace in Ukraine, hosted by Switzerland at Burgenstock on June 15-16. The Indian delegation attended the Opening and Closing Plenary Sessions of the Summit.
Stating that while India shares the global concern over the situation in Ukraine and supports any collective desire to facilitate a peaceful resolution of the conflict, India believes that “such a peace requires bringing together all stakeholders and a sincere and practical engagement between the two parties to the conflict” – meaning the inclusion of Russia too.
“India’s participation in the Summit on Peace in Ukraine, as well as in the preceding NSA/Political-Director level meetings based on Ukraine’s Peace Formula, is in line with our clear and consistent approach that enduring peace can be achieved only through dialogue and diplomacy. We continue to believe that such a peace requires bringing together all stakeholders and a sincere and practical engagement between the two parties to the conflict,” Kapoor said.
“Accordingly, we will 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,” he added.
He said that India’s participation in the Summit and continued engagement with all stakeholders “is with a view to understanding different perspectives, approaches and options to find a way forward for a sustainable resolution of the conflict.
“In our view, only those options acceptable to both the parties can lead to abiding peace. In line with this approach, we have decided to avoid association with the Joint Communiqué or any other document emerging from this Summit.”
A press statement said that “India’s participation in the Summit, as well as in the preceding NSA/Political Director-level meetings based on Ukraine’s Peace Formula, was in line with our consistent approach to facilitate a lasting and peaceful resolution to the conflict through dialogue and diplomacy. We continue to believe that such a resolution requires a sincere and practical engagement between the two parties to the conflict”.
“In this regard, India will continue to remain engaged with all stakeholders as well as both the parties to contribute to all earnest efforts to bring about an early and abiding peace.”
Several countries attending the summit, including India, South Africa, Saudi Arabia and the UAE, did not sign the communique.
The summit was aimed at creating the broadest possible backing for a process that could help end the war in Ukraine.
More than 90 countries and international organisations attended the summit.
Russia was not invited, and its biggest backer China was not present, leading some to cast doubt on the summit's effectiveness.
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