NEW DELHI: With Washington’s deadline fast approaching for Kyiv to accept US President Donald Trump’s contentious 28-point peace plan, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha reached out to External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar to brief him on the diplomatic efforts to end the nearly four-year conflict with Russia.
Trump has given Ukraine until November 27 to approve the proposal -- a plan that would require Kyiv to cede territory sought by Moscow, reduce its army, and commit to never joining NATO. Negotiators are set to meet in Switzerland in what is shaping up to be one of the most consequential rounds of talks since the conflict began.
Sybiha, posting on X, said: “I had a call with India’s External Affairs Minister Dr S. Jaishankar and informed him about the dynamics of peace efforts and upcoming talks. We exchanged assessments of the current developments.”
Jaishankar, talking about the phone conversation, said that he appreciated Sybiha’s briefing and reiterated India’s support for an early end to the conflict and the establishment of an enduring peace.
“Appreciate his briefing on the ongoing developments related to the Ukraine conflict. Reiterated India’s support for an early end to this conflict and the establishment of an enduring peace,” Jaishankar said.
The Trump plan, described by his special envoy for Ukraine, Keith Kellogg, as “a work in progress,” has sparked unease in Europe, with Ukrainian allies stressing that the proposal still requires “additional work.”
European diplomats, gathered on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Johannesburg, talked about a counteroffer aimed at strengthening Kyiv’s hand as they sense President Trump is pushing hard for a solution this time.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and special envoy Steve Witkoff would be leading the negotiations, while US Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll has already reached Europe following his meeting with President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv.
As the clock ticks down, the geopolitical stakes and the pressure on Ukraine continue to intensify for going for a solution. India has long advocated for solving the conflict through dialogue.