Jaishankar calls for focus on 'reconciliation' in Ukraine

Munich: Stressing on the need for diplomacy in the matter of Ukraine-Russia border tensions, Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar said that the situation now was vastly different from the Cold War era and that nations were more interconnected and willing to co-operate.

We are far more globalized, inter-penetrable.. situation calls for a very different kind of approach... At the end of the day, diplomacy is the answer. One has to look at ways of reconciling," he said on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference.

India has maintained that the situation in Ukraine can be resolved only through diplomatic dialogue that leads to an immediate de-escalation of tensions while ensuring the "legitimate security interests of all countries". It has refrained from any criticism of the actions of Russia, a key strategic partner, on the border with Ukraine in the face of repeated assertions by the US and its allies about the likelihood of a Russian invasion.

The External Affair minister met his German counterpart Annalena Baerbock on Saturday, and discussed several issues including Afghanistan, Indo-Pacific and the ongoing tension between Ukraine and Russia. Baerbock also held discussions with the US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken at the Conference.

Taking to Twitter, the Foreign Minister said that he also focused on climate action and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) during the meeting.

"A wide-ranging discussion with German Foreign Minister Baerbock. Focused on climate action and SDGs, bilaterally and globally. Covered Afghanistan, Indo Pacific and Ukraine. Looking forward to building further on today's meeting", Jaishankar tweeted.

The Russian embassy in India praised India's "balanced, moral, and independent approach" at a UN Security Council briefing on the execution of the Minsk Agreements on Ukraine.

In the greater goal of ensuring international peace and security, India has stated that "quiet and productive" diplomacy is the need of the hour, and that any moves that heighten tension "may best be avoided by all sides", Russia said.

Although Russia had announced Wednesday that it was withdrawing most of its troops from the border, the US has challenged it's claims and asked for further proof, after US satellite imagery showed Russian forces moving into "tactical" positions on the border. Over 40% of the Russian troops had arranged themselves in a way that suggested aggresisveness, an anonymous US defense official told media this week.

India has advised its citizens to remain in contact with the Indian embassy in Ukraine and has also allowed the return of citizens and students fleeing the tensions.