India has consistently said that the path of dialogue and diplomacy is the only way out

There will be no winning side in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, India said at the UN Security Council (UNSC) on Thursday, adding that diplomacy will be a lasting casualty.

India remains on the side of peace, India’s Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador T S Tirumurti added at the UNSC briefing on Ukraine.

“Ever since the commencement of the conflict in Ukraine, India has been consistently calling for complete cessation of hostilities and for pursuing the path of dialogue and diplomacy as the only way out," Tirumurti pointed out.

“However, the conflict has resulted in loss of lives and countless miseries for its peoples, particularly for women, children and elderly, with millions becoming homeless and forced to take shelter in neighbouring countries,” he said.

Tirumurti emphasised that India has strongly condemned the killing of civilians in the Ukrainian city of Bucha and supported the call for an independent investigation. India also supports all efforts to alleviate the suffering of the people of Ukraine, he said.

“India remains on the side of peace and therefore believes that there will be no winning side in this conflict and while those impacted by this conflict will continue to suffer, diplomacy will be a lasting casualty,” Tirumurti said.

The conflict was having a destabilizing effect with broader regional and global implications, Tirumurti said, adding that oil prices were skyrocketing and there was shortage of food grains and fertilizers. "This has had disproportionate impact on the Global South and developing countries," India’s Permanent Representative to the UN noted.

Meanwhile, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres briefed the Council on his recent visit to Russia and Ukraine during which he met President Vladimir Putin and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on April 26 and 28, respectively.