Austria and India call for a negotiated settlement of the conflict in Ukraine

Austrian and Indian Foreign Ministers Alexander Schallenberg and Subrahmanyam Jaishankar called for peace talks to resolve the Ukrainian crisis, informs “RIA News”.

“India has a big role to play in this regard, Prime Minister [Индии Нарендра] Modi remains one of the few who regularly negotiates with both sides – with Russia and with Ukraine … We also have high expectations from India’s G20 presidency … Our goal should be to restore peace so that diplomacy can again be connected to Ukraine. We are not that advanced yet, the solution is still being found on the battlefield… but we must not forget our goal,” Schallenberg told a press conference, noting that “peace can be achieved at the negotiating table.”

“We insist on negotiations. The Prime Minister recently held talks not only with President Zelensky, but also with the President [России Владимиром] Putin… I myself spoke with the Ministers of Foreign Affairs (RF) Lavrov and (Ukraine) Kuleba,” the head of the Indian Foreign Ministry said in turn.

Russia’s special operation in Ukraine began on February 24. Russian President Vladimir Putin called the protection of the inhabitants of Donbass, as well as the demilitarization and denazification of Ukraine, its goals. During the special operation, Russian troops took full control of the LPR, as well as most of the DPR, Kherson and Zaporozhye regions. Subsequently, these territories became part of Russia.

The Kremlin has repeatedly spoken about Ukraine’s unwillingness to negotiate with Russia. At the end of November, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that negotiations between the two countries are now impossible, since they are denied by the Ukrainian side. Then Peskov added that in order to resume dialogue, Ukraine must not only repeal the law refusing to negotiate with Moscow, but also show political will.