6 days ago
Ukraine, India Discuss Restoring Black Sea Freedom of Navigation
Ukraine’s foreign minister spoke by phone with India’s foreign minister about the dangerous Black Sea situation.
Ships, ports, and energy routes in the area have faced attacks.
Ukraine says Russian attacks are hurting its ability to send food to other countries.
It says this could affect families around the world.
The two ministers discussed how ships could safely travel again.
They also talked about protecting sailors and commercial shipping.
India said it continues to support solving problems through dialogue and diplomacy.
The call followed Russian-reported strikes on several vessels and ports on August 25.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha briefed S. Jaishankar on the difficult Black Sea situation.
The ministers discussed restoring navigation freedom and protecting seafarers and commercial shipping.
Sybiha said attacks on Ukrainian ports and maritime routes threaten food exports and global food security.
Jaishankar reaffirmed India’s support for dialogue and diplomacy while discussing resumed Black Sea commerce.
The talks followed reported Russian strikes on commercial vessels and ports at Pivdennyi and Odesa.
- Who
- Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha and Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar.
- What
- They discussed the Black Sea crisis, resuming commerce, and restoring secure freedom of navigation.
- Where
- The Black Sea, including the ports of Pivdennyi and Odesa.
- When
- During a phone conversation reported after August 25; the specific call date was not stated.
- Why
- Because attacks on maritime routes, ports, and commercial vessels have threatened shipping and Ukrainian food exports.
Ukraine’s Security and Export Concerns
India’s Diplomatic Approach
Cause of the maritime crisis
Ukraine’s Security and Export Concerns
Ukraine’s foreign minister attributed the difficult Black Sea situation and intensified attacks on ports and maritime routes to Russian aggression against Ukraine.
India’s Diplomatic Approach
India’s statement focused on the practical need to resume commerce and ensure the safety and security of all seafarers and commercial shipping, without publicly assigning blame in the cited remarks.
How to respond
Ukraine’s Security and Export Concerns
Ukraine called for restoring and securing freedom of navigation and warned that disrupted food exports could endanger global food security.
India’s Diplomatic Approach
India reaffirmed dialogue and diplomacy as its approach to addressing the situation.
Key facts
- Main participants
- Andrii Sybiha and S. Jaishankar
- Central issue
- Restoring freedom of navigation and resuming commerce in the Black Sea
- India’s position
- India remains an advocate of dialogue and diplomacy
- Reported August 25 strikes
- The Russian Defence Ministry said missile and drone barrages hit three cargo vessels and a tanker at Pivdennyi, plus another cargo ship at Odesa
- Ukrainian concern
- Disruption of Ukrainian food exports could threaten global food security
- Additional discussions
- The ministers discussed Ukraine–India bilateral cooperation and future contacts
- Separate Russian talks
- Jaishankar also discussed bilateral, regional, global, and multilateral issues with Sergey Lavrov
Quotes
Andrii Sybiha
Ukraine's foreign minister
“Appreciate the conversation this evening with Ukraine FM Andrii Sybiha. Our discussion focused on the resumption of commerce in the Black Sea, ensuring the safety and security of all seafarers and commercial shipping. India remains a steadfast advocate of dialogue and diplomacy.”
thehansindia.com
“I had a phone call with India's External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar. I briefed him on the difficult situation in the Black Sea as a result of Russian aggression against Ukraine and intensified attacks on our ports and maritime routes.”
thehansindia.com
Sources
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