External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Monday, 9 November 2026, held a telephone conversation with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, focusing on the Ukraine conflict and ongoing diplomatic initiatives. The call came on the same day Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, signalling a coordinated Indian diplomatic push on the war's resolution.

What Was Discussed

'Spoke this evening with Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov of Russia. Our conversation focused on the Ukraine conflict and ongoing diplomatic initiatives,' Jaishankar posted on X.

Separately, Prime Minister Modi's conversation with Zelensky saw India reaffirm its 'human-centric approach' and its consistent position that the conflict must be resolved through dialogue and diplomacy. 'The Prime Minister reaffirmed India's human-centric approach and reiterated India's consistent position that the conflict must be resolved through dialogue and diplomacy. He conveyed India's readiness to contribute to all efforts aimed at peaceful resolution of the conflict,' read a statement from the Prime Minister's Office (PMO).

Zelensky's Office on India's Role

According to a statement from Zelensky's office, India is reportedly ready to mediate in establishing food corridors, and Ukraine looks forward to continued efforts in this direction. Zelensky noted: 'The Prime Minister has repeatedly said, including to the Russian leader, that now is the time to end the war, not continue it. It is important that India finds what steps it can take and dialogue with other leaders to help bring the end of the war closer.'

India's Three-Track Diplomatic Engagement

Earlier this month, on the sidelines of the G20 Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Atlanta, Jaishankar outlined India's engagement on three specific dimensions of the conflict — protecting civilian shipping and seafarers, restoring grain exports from the Black Sea, and securing a 'non-attack on energy' infrastructure.

Jaishankar noted that he had personally visited both Moscow and Kyiv as part of these efforts. 'I discussed it with Mr Lavrov, and then in between, I had gone to Kyiv. And we are in touch with the Ukrainian side,' he said. Modi himself had held talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Delhi and earlier in Bishkek.

Washington Kept in the Loop

India has also been coordinating its mediation efforts with the United States. 'We have also been coordinating this with the Americans, because they have their own peace mediation initiative. So Secretary Rubio knows roughly what is going on here,' Jaishankar said. This positions New Delhi as a rare diplomatic interlocutor maintaining active channels with Moscow, Kyiv, and Washington simultaneously.

As the conflict enters another winter, India's multi-directional engagement — involving the Prime Minister and the External Affairs Minister — reflects a deliberate strategy to stay relevant in any eventual peace framework.