India abstains from signing the joint communique of the Ukraine peace summit

India, along with six other countries, refrained from signing the Communique of the Ukraine peace summit held in Switzerland this Sunday, stating that 'Options acceptable to both parties can lead to enduring peace.' It's notable that Russia, another key player in the Ukraine peace summit aimed at ending the Russo-Ukrainian war, did not attend, calling it a 'waste of time.'

Pavan Kapoor, external affairs ministry secretary (West) of India, represented the country in the two-day summit held in Bürgenstock resort in Switzerland.

Kapoor said, “We continue to believe that such a peace requires bringing together all stakeholders and a sincere and practical engagement between the two parties to the conflict. In our view, only those options acceptable to both parties can lead to abiding peace. In line with this approach, we have decided to avoid association with a joint communique or any other document emerging from the summit.

“We will continue to engage with all stakeholders as well as the two parties to the conflict to contribute to all earnest efforts to achieve lasting peace in Ukraine,” he further added.

The joint communique of the summit that was signed by almost 80 countries said that the “territorial integrity” of Ukraine should be the basis for any peace agreement to end Russia’s two-year war.

The joint communique adopted at the end of the summit said, "We reaffirm our commitment to refraining from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state, the principles of sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity of all states, including Ukraine, within their internationally recognized borders, including territorial waters, and the resolution of disputes through peaceful means as principles of international law.”

It added, “Any threat or use of nuclear weapons in the context of the ongoing war against Ukraine is inadmissible…food security must not be weaponized in any way. Ukrainian agricultural products should be securely and freely provided to interested third countries, all prisoners of war must be released by complete exchange. All deported and unlawfully displaced Ukrainian children, and all other Ukrainian civilians who were unlawfully detained, must be returned to Ukraine.”

According to the joint communique, “The United Nations Charter, including the principles of respect for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of all states, can and will serve as a basis in achieving a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in Ukraine."

Zelenskyy, the Ukrainian President, called it the “first steps toward peace”. He added that the communique remains “open for accession by everyone who respects the UN Charter.”

Other than India, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Thailand, Indonesia, Mexico and UAE did not sign the final communique. Brazil which attended the summit as an "observer" country, also abstained from signing the communique.

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