India asks all sides exercise restraint in Ukraine

India today called on all sides to exercise restraint and work together constructively to find political and diplomatic solutions to the crisis in Ukraine.
Foreign Secretary Sujatha Singh, who is on a three-day official visit to Moscow, co-chaired the India-Russia Foreign Office Consultations (FoCs) with her counterparts -- Vladimir Titov, First Deputy Foreign Minister and Igor Morgulov, Deputy Foreign Minister.
During the meeting, the Russian side conveyed its perspectives on the ongoing developments in Ukraine.
Singh reiterated India's position calling on all sides to exercise restraint and work together constructively to find political and diplomatic solutions that would safeguard the legitimate interests of all sections of Ukraine's population, of all countries in the region and of long-term peace and stability in Europe and beyond.

The two sides expressed the hope that the talks involving Russia, Ukraine, the US and EU in Geneva tomorrow would make a positive contribution in this direction.
During the talks, the Foreign Secretary had detailed discussions with Titov and Morgulov on a variety of matters of bilateral and international interest.

Both sides discussed implementation of decisions reached at the last summit held in Moscow in October last year, preparations for the bilateral annual summit to be held in India later this year, preparations for the next BRICS Summit in Brazil and also the calendar of important high-level visits and consultations this year.

Other bilateral issues discussed ranged from cooperation in trade and investment, civil nuclear energy, hydrocarbons, defence, space, tourism exchanges and intensified cultural cooperation, all of which contribute to the close bilateral relationship.
Discussions on international issues covered India's and Russia's neighbourhood as well as other major international developments relating to Iran, Afghanistan, the Korean Peninsula, Syria and on multilateral issues like UNSC reforms, BRICS, RIC, SCO and Asia-Pacific Security.