India and China have agreed on the need for an immediate ceasefire in the Ukraine crisis. On Friday, the two countries agreed on the need for a ceasefire and the need for the warring countries to return to the path of diplomacy and dialogue to reduce the conflict. The issue came up during a three-hour conversation between External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi.
Jaishankar told the media briefing, ‘Wang Yi presented China’s perspective on China’s understanding, the situation arising there (in Ukraine) and related developments, and I presented the Indian point of view.’ The External Affairs Minister said the two sides discussed their respective approaches and agreed that diplomacy and dialogue should be a priority.
He said, ‘I think, about the Indian point of view, many of you must have heard me speaking in Parliament yesterday as well. And obviously what he (Wang) said is his view and what I said is my view, but the common view is that both of us are on the path of diplomacy and dialogue, along with the importance of an immediate ceasefire. (Russia and Ukraine) have agreed on the need to return.
India’s position on the Russia-Ukraine conflict has been “steadfast and consistent from the beginning to the present” and seeks a solution to the conflict through dialogue, the foreign minister told Parliament on Thursday. India is yet to condemn Russia for invading Ukraine and has also absented itself from voting at the United Nations on a resolution condemning the Russian attack. China has close ties with Russia and is signaling a willingness to assist Moscow in easing the impact of economic sanctions announced by the US and other Western countries following the Russian attack on Ukraine.
Asked whether the subject of ‘Quad’ was raised by the Chinese Foreign Minister, Jaishankar said, “No, it was not raised.” So, there was no discussion on the Quad.’ The Quad includes India, Japan, Australia and the US. In response to a separate question, Jaishankar said that the issue of Indo-Pacific did not even arise. Jaishankar said, “We also talked for some time on multilateral issues. I stressed the need to pursue the long-pending reform of the United Nations system, including the Security Council.