India has "every reason" to contribute in resolving the Ukrainian conflict, said Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla on Sunday. Addressing a special briefing on the crisis and its humanitarian dimensions, Mr. Shringla said that India believes dialogue between the warring sides is the only way ahead.
"We have been engaged with all parties. Our Prime Minister has spoken with the Presidents of Russia and Ukraine. The External Affairs Minister has been in touch with a very wide range of interlocutors who are involved in the situation. We are essentially a country that has direct interest in the region. We have friends and equities in the area," Mr. Shringla in response to a question from The Hindu.
The response was part of several similar comments from a number of global capitals that sought ceasefire in the conflict that erupted on February 23 with the Russian invasion of Ukraine. An early initiative for dialogue arose on Sunday with Belarus providing a venue for a meeting between Russian and Ukrainian representatives.
