National Security Advisor Ajit Doval has made his way to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, to partake in a significant summit of national security advisers and other officials hosted by Saudi Arabia. The summit, held on Saturday, aims to discuss and address the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine. Ajit Doval was warmly welcomed at the Jeddah Airport by Indian Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Suhel Khan, and Consul General Mohammed Shahid Alam, marking India’s active participation in the crucial peace talks.
The Indian Embassy in Riyadh confirmed Doval’s presence at the summit, stating, “Shri Ajit Doval, NSA arrived in Jeddah to take part in National Security Advisors’ meeting on Ukraine. He was welcomed at Jeddah Airport by Ambassador Dr Suhel Khan and Consul General Mohd Shahid Alam.”
The summit holds significant importance as it centers around discussions on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s peace plan to resolve the ongoing conflict with Russia. The Ministry of External Affairs also confirmed India’s participation in the summit, emphasizing India’s long-standing stance that dialogue and diplomacy are the way forward.
MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi asserted, “Yes, India has been invited to a meeting being hosted by Saudi Arabia on Ukraine in Jeddah,” emphasizing India’s commitment to finding peaceful solutions to conflicts through dialogue and negotiation.
The summit, as reported by the Wall Street Journal on July 29, is set to take place on August 5 and 6 in Jeddah, with the participation of around 30 countries, including Chile, Egypt, the European Union, Indonesia, Mexico, Poland, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Zambia.
The attendees will discuss ways to end the war between Russia and Ukraine and are hopeful that these efforts will lead to a peace summit later this year, where global leaders would sign up to shared principles for resolving the conflict.
Andriy Yermak, Zelenskyy’s chief of staff, revealed that the discussions at the summit would revolve around the Ukrainian Peace Formula, comprising ten fundamental points to ensure peace in Ukraine and establish mechanisms to counter future conflicts worldwide.
India’s involvement in the summit underscores its commitment to peaceful conflict resolution and the importance of upholding dialogue and diplomacy on the international stage. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has previously stated, “India is ready to do whatever it can for a peaceful resolution of the conflict,” reinforcing the country’s dedication to supporting global peace initiatives.
The Russia-Ukraine conflict, which escalated with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, has resulted in tens of thousands of casualties and allegations of mass civilian casualties and torture of captured Ukrainian soldiers. As the world seeks ways to achieve lasting peace in the region, the Jeddah summit serves as a crucial platform for constructive dialogue and diplomatic efforts to pave the way for a peaceful resolution to the ongoing conflict.
Sources By Agencies
