External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar calls for peaceful solution to Ukraine crisis

‘India can talk to Russia, other countries in UN Security Council and support initiatives like France’

External Affairs Minister S. Most countries are looking for a diplomatic solution to the Ukraine-Russia crisis, Jaishankar said at the Ministerial Forum for Cooperation in the Indo-Pacific in Paris on Tuesday.

Addressing the meeting, which was dominated by the Ukraine crisis, Mr Jaishankar said France was a “resident power” in the Indo-Pacific. “The situation in Ukraine is the result of a complex chain of events over the past thirty years. Most countries, such as India or France, which are very active, are looking for a diplomatic solution. India along with Russia, with other countries in the UN Security Council Can talk and support initiatives like France,” he said.

The quadrilateral “quad” collaboration originally included Australia, India, Japan and the United States, but France and the United Kingdom own overseas territories in the Indian Ocean and therefore asserted their plans to be part of the Indo-Pacific future. Is. However, in recent weeks, the Indo-Pacific has also emerged as a concept tied to European security. Indicating that concern, Mr. Jaishankar said, “Today, we look at the challenges on that score with the clarity that proximity brings. And trust me, distance is no insulation. The issues we face in the Indo-Pacific extend beyond Europe.”

Mr. Jaishankar welcomed the participation of France in the Indo-Pacific region. “We have very close relations with France, which is improving with time. The high quality of our relations affects sensitive areas like defence, nuclear, space etc. France has been a valuable partner in these areas,” he said. .

22 February, 2022, 10:27 pm