New Delhi (Gurpreet Singh): External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar held a telephonic conversation with his Ukrainian counterpart, Andrii Sybiha, on Thursday to address the intensifying security crisis in the Black Sea. The discussion focused on the safety of international commercial shipping and the welfare of Indian seafarers, who have increasingly been caught in the crossfire of the ongoing conflict. Minister Jaishankar issued a firm condemnation during the exchange, declaring that attacks on commercial vessels by any party are absolutely unacceptable and reiterating New Delhi’s stance advocating for dialogue and diplomacy as the only viable path forward.
The diplomatic outreach follows a series of tragic strikes on merchant vessels involving Indian crew members in recent weeks. Among these incidents, four Indian nationals were killed when the MV Golden Leo was struck near Odesa earlier this month, while two others remain missing after the MV AGN Ragnar was hit at Odesa port last week. Additionally, thirteen Indian seafarers remain stranded aboard the MV AMIR1 at Ukraine’s Chornomorsk port, a facility subjected to repeated missile and drone attacks.
During the conversation, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha briefed Minister Jaishankar on the outcomes of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s recent visit to Washington. Sybiha emphasized that Russian strikes on civilian maritime infrastructure threaten global food security and energy market stability, extending the fallout of the war far beyond the region. Kyiv encouraged India to take an active role in peace efforts, while New Delhi underlined how regional instability continues to jeopardize fuel, fertilizer, and food security, particularly across the Global South. Both ministers agreed to remain in close contact as the maritime situation develops.
