India has proposed a partial ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia, which would involve both sides refraining from strikes on energy facilities and critical infrastructure, ensuring safe passage through the Black Sea, and ceasing attacks on merchant ships. Foreign Minister Andriy Sibiga stated that Kyiv had received four proposals and considers the Indian one to be the most comprehensive.
Briefly about the main points
- The New Delhi Plan combines the energy and Black Sea sectors.
- Guarantees are offered for the transport of grain and energy resources via ports.
- A separate proposal has been made to cease attacks on commercial vessels.
- Kyiv is calling for an energy and maritime ceasefire to be implemented simultaneously.
- Russia views India’s role favourably, but has not endorsed the format.
What does New Delhi’s proposal include?
The first point provides for a mutual cessation of attacks on energy facilities and other critical infrastructure. This element partly coincides with the US proposal for an ‘energy truce’.
The second component concerns guarantees of the unimpeded transport of grain and energy resources through the Black Sea ports. This is of economic importance to India due to its dependence on global food and energy flows.
Separately, New Delhi has called for an end to attacks on commercial shipping in The Black Sea. Indian seafarers were among the crew members of vessels that came under attack in the region, which heightened the country’s interest in the safety of maritime routes.
How does the package differ from other initiatives?
Turkey and Egypt focused their proposals on the Black Sea and the restoration of safe grain exports. The US initiative mainly concerns a mutual cessation of attacks on energy infrastructure.
The Indian model combines these areas and singles out the protection of commercial vessels as a separate category. It is precisely this combination of several areas that formed the basis for the assessment Siberia.
Ukraine’s conditions for a partial ceasefire
Kyiv is prepared to consider an energy truce and a Black Sea truce only as simultaneous agreements. «We are prepared for an energy truce and a Black Sea truce, but only in this combination,» said Sibiga.
According to him, the energy component should entail a complete cessation of attacks on the relevant infrastructure, in particular port facilities. Ukraine also declares its readiness for an unconditional ceasefire along the entire front line.
India has stepped up its contacts with Kyiv and Moscow
Sibiga discussed Black Sea security with the Indian Foreign Minister Subramanyam Jaisankar during the September meeting. The topics discussed were freedom of navigation, port security and global food security.
Jaishankar stated that New Delhi had moved on from general calls for dialogue to more active engagement with both Ukraine and Russia simultaneously. On 8 October, the Indian Ministry of External Affairs confirmed that talks with both sides were continuing regarding shipping, transport and a possible mutual cessation of attacks.
India maintains close economic and military-technical ties with Russia, whilst at the same time maintaining diplomatic contacts with Ukraine and calling for an end to the war through negotiations.
Moscow has spoken positively about India’s activities
Vladimir Putin On 1 October, he said that the Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi regularly raises the issue of ending the war and has «very good ideas» for finding an acceptable solution. A Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov He also thanked India for its willingness to help resolve the situation and for the ideas it had put forward.
At the same time, Moscow has not announced that it has accepted any specific terms. The initiative remains a proposal for a partial cessation of hostilities: Kyiv is prepared to discuss it, whilst India continues to maintain contact with both sides.
