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UNITED NATIONS, Aug. 25 (PTI) Calling for an immediate cessation of hostilities and violence in Ukraine, India reiterated its advocacy for dialogue and diplomacy to end the Russian-Ukrainian war and ease the economic challenges posed by the conflict, especially in developing countries.
Speaking at a Security Council meeting marking six months of the Ukrainian conflict on Wednesday, India’s Permanent Representative Ruchira Kamboy said it was in the collective interest to work constructively inside and outside the United Nations to find an early solution to the war.
“We continue to reaffirm that the global order is based on international law, the UN Charter and respect for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of nations,” she said. “India continues to advocate for an immediate cessation of hostilities and an end to violence. We encourage dialogue between Ukraine and Russia. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has spoken to them more than once in this regard,” she said.
Stressing that India will work with the international community and partner countries to alleviate the economic hardship caused by the conflict in Ukraine, she said the impact of the war is not limited to Europe and has heightened concerns over food, fertilizer and fuel security. , especially in developing countries.
“India remains deeply concerned about the situation in Ukraine. The conflict has caused loss of life and untold suffering for its people, especially women, children and the elderly, leaving millions homeless and forced to take refuge in neighbouring countries,” she said.
Ukraine celebrated Independence Day on Wednesday, marking a full six months of Russia’s military offensive against the country, which began on February 24. Western countries, including the United States, have imposed significant economic and other sanctions on Russia following the aggression.
India did not criticize Russia’s aggression against Ukraine. New Delhi has repeatedly called on Russia and Ukraine to return to the path of diplomatic dialogue and expressed its support for all diplomatic efforts to end the conflict between the two countries.
Calling for emergency humanitarian assistance to be prioritized in Ukraine, Kamboj said humanitarian action must always be guided by the principles of humanitarian assistance, namely humanity, neutrality, impartiality and independence, and these measures must not be politicized. In the past six months, India has delivered 11 shipments of about 97.5 tonnes of humanitarian aid to Ukraine and neighbouring countries including Romania, Moldova, Slovakia and Poland, she said.
She said Ukraine and its neighbours fully supported the rescue and evacuation of some 22,500 Indian nationals from February to March this year. “This humanitarian aid and aid is symbolic of the Government of India’s people-centred approach to development, which is a core tenet of our nation’s beliefs and values, treating the whole world as one family,” she said.
Kamboj informed that India has just sent its 12th humanitarian aid shipment to Ukraine; it consists of 26 medicines, including “hemostatic bandages” used to stop bleeding from deep wounds in children and adults. “This is a specific request from the Ukrainian side, and we make sure we respond as quickly as possible to meet that request,” she said.
She stressed that food security remains a major issue, and said that all of us must fully appreciate the importance of food equity, affordability and accessibility.
“India has been approached by many countries for wheat and sugar supplies and we have responded positively. In the past three months alone, India has exported over 1.8 million tonnes of wheat to countries in need, including Afghanistan, Myanmar, Sudan and Yemen,” she said.
India is trying to increase the production of basic agricultural inputs such as fertilizers, and it also needs to focus on the supply of fertilizers and keep the supply chain of fertilizers smooth globally, she said.
“Equally, efforts should be made to ensure that the stability of the global fuel supply is commensurate with demand. Open markets must not be an argument for perpetuating inequality and fostering discrimination,” she said.
“We have given the world a vaccine. We have served medicines earlier. So I want to assure the Council that whenever the global South is constrained in terms of food, health and energy security, India will come forward and we will It will be done in a way that is good for the global economy and not over-exploiting struggling countries,” she said.
She stressed that India’s approach will be to foster dialogue and diplomacy with the overarching goal of ending the conflict and work with other partners to ease the economic challenges posed by the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
Prime Minister Modi has spoken on the phone with the Ukrainian and Russian presidents several times and reiterated India’s position.
(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from the Syndicated News feed, the body of the content may not have been modified or edited by LatestLY staff)
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