Asserting that India has been strongly advocating the need for ending the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said that India is pressing for a cessation of hostilities in Ukraine.

He was addressing a joint press conference along with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, and their US counterparts Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

Jaishankar said that India is also trying to address the humanitarian situation there with the supply of medicines.

“ India is in talks for the supply of wheat and sugar to many countries, including through the World Food Programme, to mitigate the volatility in food supplies and prices due to the Ukraine conflict”, he said.

When asked why India has not condemned Russia for its war on Ukraine. “Thank you for the advice and suggestions. I prefer to do it my way and articulate it my way,” he said.

He said that India has made a number of statements on Ukraine in the UN which states that India is supporting dialogue and diplomacy and for the urgent ending of war.

“Ukraine is in touch with us for medicines, a shipment of medicines will be delivered very soon,” he said.

A big concern of the conflict is the impact on energy security, including on rising prices of energy and limited supplies. “It is a legitimate concern of countries to ensure energy security.”

 To a question on India's purchase of oil from Russia, the EAM retorted that the reporter should instead focus on Europe's purchase of energy supplies from Russia. On the issue of food security due to the Ukraine war, he said that the two sides discussed India's supplying wheat and sugar to countries in need, which was also discussed between PM Modi and President Biden during the virtual summit.

He said that several countries are in touch with India for supplies of wheat and sugar following disruption in supplies due to the Ukraine conflict.