New York: Stating that India can play a major role in bringing a peaceful end to the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has claimed that the UN is maintaining close contact with India along with other nations such as Turkey, China and Israel.

"I've been in close contact with several countries that have been talking to the parties at the highest level in order to explore the different forms of mediation leading to a political solution. I have been in very close contact with our Turkish friends, with Qatar, with Israel, with India, China but also France, Germany. And it is my belief that all these efforts are essential in order to create the conditions to allow for, finally, this war to come to an end,” Guterres told reporters.

When a journalist wanted to react on whether the nations which he mentioned were with him in his efforts, he said that hoped they were with him. It may be noted that recently Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla had met Guterres to discuss the situation in Ukraine.

The meeting, which lasted at least an hour, took up the matter of Ukraine to discuss and the role of both parties in the ongoing situation.

The sources said that during the meeting, Guterres opined that India can play an important role in ending the war as the country can do so.

After the war broke out, Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi has held telephonic conversations with the leaders of Ukraine and Russia on the issue. He has appealed to both nations to come to the negotiating table to find the best possible solution to end the war.

Meanwhile Guterres has said that after the Russian waging war against Ukraine, it has led to the senseless loss of thousands of lives; the displacement of ten million people, mainly women and children; the systematic destruction of essential infrastructure; and skyrocketing food and energy prices worldwide. This must stop.