India proposal to end war most comprehensive, says Ukraine

For the first time since Russia’s war in Ukraine began in February 2022, India has put forward what Ukraine has described as a comprehensive and broad proposal aimed at ending the conflict.

Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said Friday that Kyiv had received four proposals related to a possible ceasefire, with India’s proposal being the broadest among them. He said India had, for the first time, signalled its willingness to play a role in efforts to find a way towards ending the war.

Speaking to reporters in Kyiv, Sybiha said Ukraine was prepared to consider arrangements covering energy infrastructure, agricultural activity and the Black Sea. He also said Kyiv was considering the possibility of an unconditional ceasefire along the line of contact.

“We have four proposals. The most comprehensive is India’s proposal,” Sybiha said, adding that Ukraine was ready to consider an energy and Black Sea ceasefire under certain conditions.

According to the Ukrainian foreign minister, Kyiv wants any ceasefire arrangement to cover more than just fighting on the ground. It should also include attacks on energy infrastructure and port facilities, as well as the situation in the Black Sea.

Ukraine has also received ceasefire-related proposals from Turkey, Egypt and the United States. Turkish and Egyptian initiatives have focused on a possible Black Sea ceasefire, which could help create conditions for the resumption of Ukrainian grain exports.

The United States has separately urged Russia and Ukraine to stop attacks on energy infrastructure. Sybiha said Ukraine was prepared to consider an even broader ceasefire that would directly cover the frontline.

The comments from Ukraine came shortly after Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke about Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s efforts to encourage an end to the conflict.

Speaking at the annual foreign policy session of the Valdai Discussion Club, Putin said Modi regularly raises the issue of ending the conflict in Ukraine. Putin described Modi as a leader who maintains good relations with Russia while also showing an interest in finding a peaceful solution.

Putin said Modi had “very good ideas” aimed at finding mutually acceptable solutions and expressed appreciation for the Indian Prime Minister’s efforts to encourage an end to the conflict through peaceful means.

India has repeatedly called for dialogue and diplomacy to resolve the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Prime Minister Modi has raised the issue with Putin on several occasions since the war began.

On August 31, Modi met Putin in Bishkek on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit and urged him to move from what he described as an “endless war” towards an “end of war”.

Modi had also used the phrase “This is not the era of war” during his earlier discussions with Putin in 2022. During his visit to Moscow in July 2024, he said that peace talks could not succeed amid bombs, guns and bullets and that a solution could not be achieved on the battlefield.

The latest developments indicate that several countries are now putting forward different proposals aimed at creating conditions for a ceasefire. The proposals differ in their scope, with some focusing on specific areas such as energy infrastructure or the Black Sea and others seeking broader arrangements.

Ukraine’s statement that India’s proposal is the most comprehensive among the four proposals reflects Kyiv’s assessment of the initiatives currently under consideration. Putin’s remarks, meanwhile, indicate that Russia is aware of Modi’s continuing efforts to promote a negotiated and peaceful resolution.

The details of India’s proposal have not been fully outlined in the report, and it remains unclear how Moscow and Kyiv would respond to each individual element. Any ceasefire arrangement would also depend on agreement between the parties involved and on the implementation of the proposed measures.

For India, the latest developments come against the backdrop of its continued engagement with both Russia and Ukraine and its repeated public emphasis on dialogue, diplomacy and a peaceful resolution to the conflict.