David McAllister, chair of the European Parliament’s Committee on Foreign Affairs, said India could help Russia and Ukraine move toward talks, citing New Delhi’s ties with both governments and its earlier engagement on maritime safety.
McAllister made the comments in an interview published Oct. 29 by NDTV. He cited India’s ties with Russia and Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Kyiv as reasons New Delhi might communicate with both governments. He called India “one of the players who might be able to navigate and negotiate between Moscow and Kyiv.” He said a peace deal should be fair and lasting, with security guarantees for Ukraine. His remarks did not announce a formal EU mediation role.
At an Oct. 7 briefing, India’s Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said New Delhi had ongoing conversations with Russia and Ukraine about Black Sea shipping safety, grain and energy exports, and what he called “non-attack possibilities.” The briefing described the conversations but did not report an agreement with either side.
Jaiswal said four vessels had been attacked in the Black Sea during the one or two days before the briefing. He reported that one Indian was injured aboard the MV Royad Mammadov and another aboard the MV Able. He also said 23 Indian nationals were rescued from the Aframax Rio.
Modi visited Ukraine on Aug. 23, 2024, becoming the first Indian prime minister to do so. A joint statement from the visit said India was willing to contribute to restoring peace through dialogue and diplomacy. It also emphasized keeping agricultural supplies moving to global markets, especially in Asia and Africa.
The Associated Press reported Oct. 2 that Ukraine had received partial-truce proposals from India, the United States, Türkiye and Egypt covering energy infrastructure and Black Sea shipping. AP reported that Kyiv sought a combined arrangement, while Moscow rejected a temporary truce in favor of a comprehensive peace deal.
