Blitz Bureau
NEW DELHI: External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on November 23 said he had a phone conversation with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha and discussed the latest developments in Ukraine’s ongoing conflict with Russia. In a post on X, Jaishankar said, “Had a telecon with FM Andrii Sybiha of Ukraine last evening. Appreciate his briefing on the ongoing developments related to the Ukraine conflict. Reiterated India’s support for an early end to this conflict and the establishment of an enduring peace.”
The two ministers had last met on the sidelines of the G7 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting Outreach Session in Canada in November, where they discussed bilateral cooperation, the path to peace in Ukraine, and the situation on the battlefield. India has consistently underscored that dialogue and diplomacy remain the only viable route to achieving a fair and lasting settlement. In a separate development, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has warned that Ukraine is experiencing “one of the most difficult moments in our history,” as the US presses Kyiv to consider a plan that many in Ukraine view as leaning toward Moscow’s interests.
In efforts to end the conflict, Washington has given Kyiv until November 27 to deliver its response to the peace plan draft, while Russian President Vladimir Putin has described the draft as a potential “basis” for an eventual settlement. In a sombre national address on November 21, Zelensky cautioned that the country “might face a very difficult choice: either losing dignity, or risk losing a key partner.” He pledged to uphold “the dignity and freedom of Ukrainians” and said Kyiv would continue to work constructively with the United States. Additionally, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said that the Russia-Ukraine peace proposal has been prepared with contributions from Moscow, further noting that earlier suggestions from Kyiv were also factored in.
