NEW DELHI: External affairs minister S Jaishankar spoke to Ukraine’s foreign minister Andrii Sybiha on Saturday and discussed the latest developments in the Ukraine conflict. After the call, Jaishankar posted X, “Had a telecon with FM Andrii Sybiha last evening. 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.” The two leaders had last met in Canada in November during the G7 foreign ministers’ outreach session, where they reviewed bilateral ties and the situation on the battlefield. India has repeatedly said that only dialogue and diplomacy can lead to a fair and lasting settlement.The call came at a sensitive moment, as US president Donald Trump said he expects Zelenskyy to respond by next Thursday on the new 28-point plan to end the war, although he later said he “would like to get to peace”.The proposal also caused a storm in Washington on Saturday. Hours after Trump’s remarks, some Republican senators said secretary of state Marco Rubio told them that the document resembled a “Russian wish list”. The state department rejected that account, and Rubio later said the plan was drafted by the US. The episode, however, raised questions about the plan’s clarity and future. For Ukraine, the moment is even more difficult as Zelenskyy is facing a corruption scandal involving $100 million in alleged kickbacks linked to the state nuclear energy company, leading to cabinet resignations. Zelenskyy warned Friday that Ukraine is entering “perhaps the most difficult choice in its history”. Ukraine’s battlefield challenges and energy shortages ahead of winter have also increased pressure.
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