NICOSIA: External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar met with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha on Wednesday to discuss the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, battlefield developments, and avenues for establishing a “comprehensive and lasting peace”. The two leaders held their dialogue on the sidelines of the Gymnich Forum—an informal meeting of European Union foreign ministers hosted in Cyprus to address major geopolitical and security challenges.
Following the high-level interaction, Jaishankar described the meeting as a “useful” opportunity to exchange views on the conflict and review bilateral cooperation.
Key Highlights of the Strategic Dialogue
The diplomatic exchange focused heavily on resolving the crisis and aligning perspectives on global peace efforts:
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Battlefield Realities: Minister Sybiha detailed the latest ground-level updates, noting “Ukraine’s growing initiative” despite recent intense military strikes on Kyiv.
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The Peace Mandate: Sybiha emphasized Kyiv’s clear resolve to end the war through a durable peace framework and stressed the need for broader international involvement.
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Call for India’s Input: Highlighting Europe’s increasing responsibility in the conflict, the Ukrainian Foreign Minister explicitly stated that Kyiv would welcome India’s influential voice and strategic input in the peace process.
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Bilateral Continuity: Both sides reviewed their bilateral ties and agreed to maintain a regular cadence of dialogue on matters of mutual interest.
India has consistently maintained a balanced diplomatic stance, calling for immediate dialogue and diplomacy while sustaining working relationships with both Moscow and Kyiv. This engagement follows Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s repeated assertions that “this is not an era of war”.
Broader Multilateral Engagements in Cyprus
Taking advantage of the multilateral gathering, Jaishankar also conducted pivotal bilateral meetings with other key international delegates:
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West Asia Security: The External Affairs Minister met with Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister, Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, to deliberate on the evolving security situation across West Asia.
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India-EU Relations: Jaishankar held talks with Kaja Kallas, the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, focusing on India-EU institutional cooperation and regional developments.
Jaishankar expressed his appreciation to Kallas and Cyprus Foreign Minister Constantinos Kombos for the invitation to the Gymnich Forum, reinforcing India’s commitment to active engagement with European security and economic frameworks.
