By Anjali Sharma
WASHINGTON – External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Monday spoke with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, and discussed the ongoing Ukraine conflict and diplomatic efforts to end the war.

The talks came as PM Modi reiterated India’s readiness to support peace initiatives during his phone conversation with Ukrainian President.

Media reported that Jaishankar shared details of the conversation in a post on X, stated “Spoke this evening with Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov of Russia. Our conversation focused on the Ukraine conflict and ongoing diplomatic initiatives.”

The conversation took place on the same day Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky over the phone.\

During the discussion, Modi reiterated India’s willingness to support efforts to find a peaceful solution to the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

According to a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office Modi stressed that India believes the conflict should be resolved through dialogue and diplomacy.

“The Prime Minister reaffirmed India’s human-centric approach and reiterated India’s consistent position that the conflict must be resolved through dialogue and diplomacy. He conveyed India’s readiness to contribute to all efforts aimed at peaceful resolution of the conflict,” the PMO statement said.

Ukraine said India was ready to help establish food corridors and expressed hope that efforts in this direction would continue in a statement issued by Zelensky’s office.

Zelensky also said Modi had stressed the need to end the war, including during his conversations with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

“The Prime Minister has repeatedly said, including to the Russian leader that now is the time to end the war, not continue it. It is important that India finds what steps it can take and dialogue with other leaders to help bring the end of the war closer,” Zelensky said, according to the statement.

Jaishankar said India was holding discussions with Russia, Ukraine and European countries on three key issues related to the conflict. These included the safety of civilian ships and seafarers, the resumption of grain exports through the Black Sea and an agreement to avoid attacks on energy infrastructure.

He was speaking to Indian reporters on the sidelines of the G20 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Atlanta, Jaishankar said India was maintaining regular contact with both sides.

EAM also referred to Modi’s discussions with Putin in Delhi and Bishkek, his own visit to Moscow and his subsequent visit to Kyiv as part of India’s diplomatic engagement.

Jaishankar added that India was coordinating these efforts with the United States, which is also pursuing its own peace initiative.

“We have also been coordinating this with the Americans, because they have their own peace mediation initiative. So Secretary Rubio knows roughly what is going on here,” he concluded.