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EYE ON INDIA SEPTEMBER 11, 2026 | The Indian Eye 10

Peace and Petroleum: India walks a

careful line as West presses over Ukraine

Jaishankar’s Kyiv visit underlines New Delhi’s effort to engage Ukraine and advocate

dialogue while resisting Western pressure over its Russian energy ties.

OUR BUREAU dom of navigation in the Black Sea,
attacks on infrastructure and global
Kyiv / New Delhi
food security.
ndia’s handling of the Rus- Jaishankar pointed specifically to
sia-Ukraine war is increasingly Indian seafarers caught up in the con-
Ibecoming a test of its diplomat- flict and the broader impact on the
ic balancing skills. As pressure from Global South. “Indian seafarers man
the West mounts over New Delhi’s ships of many flags and have been
continued energy engagement with among the unfortunate casualties,”
Moscow, India is seeking to make he said, warning that disruptions to
clear that supporting peace does not shipping were contributing to “fuel,
mean accepting demands that could fertilizer and food shortage”.
compromise its strategic or economic This allows India to present its
interests. Ukraine policy not simply as a bilater-
External Affairs Minister S Jais- al issue involving Russia and Ukraine,
hankar’s visit to Kyiv on Thursday but as part of a wider argument about
offered a glimpse into that approach. the interests of developing countries.
His message was carefully calibrated: New Delhi’s message is that the eco-
India is willing to engage Ukraine, nomic consequences of geopolitical
support efforts towards peace and conflicts cannot be ignored while ma-
contribute to diplomacy, but it will not jor powers pursue strategic objectives.
accept the argument that its purchase The diplomatic balancing act is
of Russian oil is responsible for pro- therefore visible on several fronts. In-
longing the war. dia continues its strategic relationship
The timing is significant. The with Russia, including energy cooper-
United States has been seeking great- ation, while simultaneously engaging
er economic pressure on Russia and Ukraine and maintaining that Mos-
has considered measures targeting cow’s invasion cannot be resolved mili-
countries that continue to buy Rus- tarily. It is also keeping communication
sian oil and gas. India, one of the larg- channels open with Washington even as
est buyers of Russian crude, conse- potential US sanctions create pressure.
quently finds itself directly in the line India’s response to the proposed
of Western pressure. American legislation has been delib-
Jaishankar, however, sought to erately restrained. Commerce Sec-
separate the two issues. Asked wheth- retary Rajesh Agrawal described it
er India could reduce its Russian oil External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar pays homage to the statue of Mahatma Gandhi at as part of the US legislative process
purchases in the event of US sanc- and said New Delhi would not com-
tions, he emphasised the challenge National Botanical Garden, in Kyiv on Thursday (@DrSJaishankar X/ANI Photo) ment on another country’s internal
of securing energy for a population proceedings. At the same time, he
of 1.4 billion. “I think it’s also import- requires negotiations and diplomacy. ly be reached. stressed that India and the US re-
ant that all of you get the challenges “But let me just add this,” Jaishankar At the same time, India is not mained committed to advancing their
of providing for energy for 1.4 billion said. “This conflict... will not be solved keeping its distance from Ukraine. trade negotiations.
people at a time when the world en- because somebody is buying or not Jaishankar’s visit to Kyiv, the first The message is unmistakable: In-
ergy situation is very, very difficult,” buying oil or alumina or minerals or dedicated bilateral visit to Ukraine by dia does not want the Ukraine ques-
he said. India, he added, respects metals or fertiliser. This conflict will an Indian External Affairs Minister, tion to derail its broader relationship
Ukraine’s perspective but expects be solved by dialogue, by diplomacy, demonstrates that New Delhi wants with Washington.
others to respect its own. and by negotiation.” to maintain a direct channel with the Jaishankar summed up that ap-
That is the central principle be- The statement is also an answer Ukrainian leadership. proach by saying that India stands
hind New Delhi’s Ukraine policy. In- to growing Western criticism. India’s Ukrainian Foreign Minister And- ready to help “if India can be of any
dia has refused to endorse a Western position is that energy trade cannot be rii Sybiha described India as a “global help in any manner”. The formula-
framework in which countries are ex- treated as the principal measure of a superpower” and welcomed Prime tion is deliberately open-ended. India
pected to demonstrate their opposi- country’s commitment to peace. For Minister Narendra Modi’s call to is offering itself as a possible contrib-
tion to Russia primarily through eco- New Delhi, the larger question is how move from “an endless war towards utor to a peace process, but is not ac-
nomic disengagement. Instead, it has the war ends and whether a sustain- an end to the war”. The Ukrainian cepting responsibility for resolving a
consistently argued that the conflict able political settlement can eventual- side also raised concerns about free- conflict in which it is not a party.

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