India 'strongly against' conflict in Ukraine: Jaishankar in Lok Sabha

"We believe that no solution can be arrived at by shedding blood and at the cost of innocent lives," he also said.

India is strongly against the conflict in Ukraine escalating, union minister for external affairs, S Jaishankar told the Lok Sabha on Wednesday in reply to a debate over the ongoing war. Responding to the questions regarding India's stand, Jaishankar said, "We are, first and foremost, strongly against the conflict. We believe no solution can be arrived at by shedding blood and at the cost of innocent lives." The foreign minister also said, "In this day and age, dialogue and diplomacy are the right answers to any disputes."

Speaking further, Jaishankar said that the conflict "has had significant consequences for the global economy and for our national economy." "Like all countries, we too are assessing the implications and deciding what is best for our national interest," he added.

On Tuesday, the Lok Sabha members took the ongoing war in between Russia and Ukraine for debate. During the debate, the opposition leaders raised talked of the relevance of principles of non-alignment in the complex geopolitical situation created by Ukraine-Russia crisis.

Four union ministers - Hardeep Singh Puri, Kiren Rijiju, Jyotiraditya Scindia and General VK Singh - who went to countries bordering Ukraine as Prime Minister Narendra Modi's special envoys to help evacuate over 22,000 Indians stranded in the eastern European nation, also took part.

After months of build up, Russia on February 24 launched a full blown invasion in Ukraine. Since then India has maintained a neutral stand and has refrained from criticising Russia, an old ally of New Delhi, for carrying out the brutal offensive.

India abstained on all Ukraine-related votes at UN bodies. It also distanced itself from West's call to isolate Russia over the invasion.

Russia is demanding that the pro-European Union Kyiv to maintain neutrality status.

Moscow has demanded that pro-European Union Kyiv maintain neutrality and has also been asked Kyiv to renounce its demand to join NATO, a military alliance of Western countries.

Living under the shadow of Russia, Ukraine has long expressed its wish to join NATO to protect itself from aggression from any nation. However, with Russian forces waging a brutal attack on key Ukrainian cities and, according to Ukraine officials, on civilian populations too, Kyiv has agreed to give up claims to join NATO.

Updated on Apr 06, 2022 02:07 PM IST

By hindustantimes.com