At BRICS, India's task is to keep the Ukraine peace process moving, Pg12

Key Highlights:

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged Russian President Vladimir Putin to end the Ukraine war during their meeting on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit.
• US envoys, including Jared Kushner, visited Moscow and Kyiv with new peace proposals, indicating a renewed American peace initiative.
• External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar also traveled to Moscow and Kyiv, advocating for dialogue and diplomacy to resolve the conflict.
• India, as the current chair of BRICS, is poised to host a summit in New Delhi that will seek a collective call for peace, reflecting the global impact of the ongoing wars.

Detailed Insights:

• The American peace initiative, which includes the Alaska process of 2025 and the Anchorage summit between Trump and Putin, had previously lost momentum due to Washington's focus on other geopolitical issues.
• Russia's reported demands for a settlement include control over Crimea, the entire Donbas region (comprising Donetsk and Luhansk), and potentially parts of Zaporizhzhia and Kherson, in exchange for easing sanctions.
• India's diplomatic strategy involves working within existing peace tracks, amplifying the voice of the Global South, and offering assistance only if both warring parties request it.
• The Ukraine conflict's costs extend beyond the immediate theatre, affecting global energy prices, food security, inflation, and the stability of multilateral institutions.
• India maintains that its citizens' energy security is non-negotiable and that sanctions alone are not a substitute for sustained diplomatic efforts.
• The upcoming BRICS summit will include Russia and Iran, providing a platform for member nations to issue a unified call for peace.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO): A Eurasian political, economic, and security organization established in 2001 to promote cooperation and peace among member states.
• BRICS: An intergovernmental organization comprising major emerging economies (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, and expanded members) aimed at increasing geopolitical influence and promoting economic cooperation.
• Global South: A term referring to countries often described as developing or less developed, primarily located in Africa, Asia, and Latin America, sharing common histories of colonialism and economic dependency.
• Multilateral Institutions: International organizations that facilitate cooperation among multiple countries on global issues such as trade, security, and development.