PM calls for Ukraine ceasefire, says don’t curb energy supply
NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday reiterated his call for a return to the “path of ceasefire and diplomacy” in Ukraine, and opposed any restrictions on the supply of energy against the backdrop of the G7’s plan to impose a price cap on Russian oil.
Modi also met a number of world leaders on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Bali — apart from holding discussions with US President Joe Biden, he was seen talking to newly appointed UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and French President Emmanuel Macron in the morning, and exchanging pleasantries with Chinese President Xi Jinping at the formal dinner in the evening.
Addressing the first working session of the summit that focused on food and energy security, Modi said that India’s access to energy is crucial for worldwide growth as it is the world’s fastest-growing economy. He also warned that the global shortage of fertilisers represents a “huge crisis” for food security.
Modi said the onus of creating a new world order to meet the challenges of the post-covid-19 era has fallen on the grouping of the world’s 20 largest economies as multilateral institutions such as the UN have been unsuccessful.
The G20 leaders gathered for the two-day summit in the Indonesian resort town of Bali amid deep divisions over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Western leaders such as Biden and
Sunak said they will use the summit to denounce Russia’s actions and to strengthen global support against the war.
“I have repeatedly said that we have to find a way to return to the path of ceasefire and diplomacy in Ukraine,” Modi said in his address, speaking in Hindi.
He emphasised that a solution to the Ukraine crisis will be a focus of India’s G20 presidency, which begins in December. “The need of the hour is to show concrete and collective resolve to ensure peace, harmony and security in the world. I am confident that next year when the G20 meets in the holy land of Buddha and Gandhi, we will all agree to convey a strong message of peace to the world,” he said. India’s energy security is “important for global growth” as it is the world’s fastest growing economy, he noted. “We must not promote any restrictions on the supply of energy and stability in the energy market should be ensured,” Modi said.
The remarks are significant in view of the G7’s plan to impose a price cap on Russian oil from December 5 and a move by the UK to cut off access to its insurance market for vessels transporting Russian crude. The EU plans to impose a ban on seaborne exports of Russian crude from December 5.
India has so far refrained from publicly criticising Russia’s invasion and consistently called for an end to hostilities and a return to the path of diplomacy and dialogue.