India has a clear position on the Ukraine conflict: EAM Dr. S Jaishankar at Raisina Dialogue

External Affairs Minister Dr. S Jaishankar on Tuesday said that the crisis in Ukraine is a wake-up call for Europe to also look at what has been happening in Asia. He further added that the west should seek solutions for other ‘pressing issues’ apart from Russia-Ukraine conflict including the situation unfolded in Afghanistan.

“Ukraine is not a precedent for China, such events have been underway in Asia for the decade without Europe’s attention. So, this is a wake-up call for Europe to start looking at Asia,” EAM Dr. S Jaishankar said.

Speaking at the interactive session at Raisina Dialogue on India’s position on Russia-Ukraine crisis with his counterparts from across the world, EAM Dr. S Jaishankar said that India’s position on the conflict in Ukraine has been very clear.

“A position which emphasis urgent cessation of fighting & urges return to dialogue and diplomacy. Also stresses the need to respect sovereignty and territorial integrity of states,” EAM Dr. S Jaishankar said.

Further talking of disruptions to rules-based order in Asia, and the west’s muted stand over the crisis, EAM Dr. S Jaishankar, “When rules-based order was challenged in Asia, the advice we go from Europe is- do more trade. At least we are not giving you that advice. We have to find a way to return to diplomacy & to do that, the fighting must stop.” In reference to Afghanistan crisis, EAM Dr. S Jaishankar noted, “You talked about Ukraine, I remember less than a year ago what happened in Afghanistan, where the entire civil society was thrown under the bus by the world. We in Asia face our own sets of challenges which often have an impact on the rules-based order.”

Describing the conflict in Ukraine as ‘dominant’, EAM Dr. S Jaishankar said, “I recognise today that the conflict in Ukraine is the dominant issue, if not among the dominant issues of the day … Truth is, there is really nobody who wants to see this conflict.”

“There will be no winners out of this contest,” added the External Affairs Minister

Talking of significant impacts of Russia-Ukraine conflict on the region and beyond, EAM Dr. S Jaishankar said, “People in Africa and Asia people are seeing the conflict play out in terms of higher energy prices, in terms of food inflation, in terms of disruptions of various kinds,” he said.

Further talking of India’s role in Latin America, EAM Dr. S Jaishankar said, “A good example of the relationship India has with the region is when the doubling of trade was discussed between India and Argentina. This is an interesting consequence of globalization.”