News Brief
Conflict In Ukraine Hurting Global South, Diplomacy Holds Key To Peace: India At UNGA
India’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Parvathaneni Harish. (X)
India has expressed regret over Ukraine conflict's collateral consequences, including rising fuel prices which are disproportionately affecting the Global South.
Ambassador Parvathaneni Harish, India's Permanent Representative to the UN, stated at the UN General Assembly on Thursday (4 September) that the loss of innocent lives is unacceptable, and no solution can be found on the battlefield, reported The New Indian Express.
Speaking during the debate on the situation in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine,' Harish said India “note with regret that the collateral consequences of the conflict, including prices of fuel, is affecting the world at large and particularly the countries of the Global South, which have been left to fend for themselves. From our perspective, it is critical that their voices are heard, and their legitimate concerns duly addressed.”
Harish stressed the importance of full engagement and commitment from all stakeholders in achieving long-term peace, while welcoming "recent positive developments" in diplomacy.
He noted India’s endorsement of last month’s Alaska summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin and praised the subsequent diplomatic efforts by the US president in engaging with Ukrainian president and European leaders in Washington.
Three days after the Alaska summit, Trump hosted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky alongside European leaders, including German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, French President Emmanuel Macron, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Finnish President Alexander Stubb, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte.
Harish referred to PM Modi's message that this is not an era of war and emphasised that Delhi stands ready to support diplomatic efforts for an early end to the conflict.
Hours before India's statement at the UNGA, Modi spoke with European Council President António Costa and von der Leyen, and exchanged views on issues of mutual interest and efforts for bringing an early end to the conflict in Ukraine.
Harish concluded that India’s approach remains people-centric, combining humanitarian aid to Ukraine with economic support to distressed Global South partners.
