Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said the country wants long-lasting and comprehensive peace and an end the war this year. He was speaking in Mumbai where Ukraine opened its new Consulate General.
"We want to end this war, this year. And having such friends, such support from such countries of global influence as India, we really could speed up these peace efforts," he said.
On Tuesday, US President Donald Trump had a phone conversation with Russian President Donald Trump on the Ukraine war ceasefire. Russia agreed to a mutual end to targeting energy infrastructure but declined to commit to a 30-day full ceasefire.
"If we proceed with ceasefire, and we accept this proposal unconditionally, and we do really also expect that the Russian side will accept this proposal also unconditionally," Sybiha said.
He stressed that the "unprovoked" Russian aggression was not just about Ukraine, but an attack on the world order and on the principle to respect territorial integrity and sovereignty. Therefore, he felt it was in the global interest to restore comprehensive and long-lasting peace.
Sybiha added that India's role in the peace process is very important, and Ukraine hopes to boost bilateral relations between the two countries. The opening of the country's consulate in Mumbai was a strong signal of how important India was globally, he added.
"It is a true recognition of your importance, and I am confident because any strengthening of diplomatic presence is a step forward for strengthening of bilateral relations," stated Sybiha.
If a ceasefire works out then the expectation would be returning back freedom of navigation to the Black Sea, he said.
"It means that we will strengthen our logistic chains, and these logistic corridors will be more secure, and that is important for our bilateral trade," opined Sybiha.
He also pointed to huge opportunities for businesses in rebuilding infrastructure in post-war Ukraine.
"According to the evaluations of the World Bank, Russians, by their missile terror, damaged our infrastructure approximately at the cost of $600 billion. We will need the support of the world to rebuild, and it is also an opportunity for you to participate in this huge project," Sybiha said addressing a gathering at the World Trade Centre in the financial capital.