Today, Jaishankar will respond to the Lok Sabha debate on the Ukraine situation

*Paromita Das

On Wednesday, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will respond to the Lok Sabha debate on the Ukraine conflict. After RSP member NK Premachandran and Congress MP Manish Tewari issued a notice under rule 193, the Lowe House convened a debate on the situation in Ukraine.

Members of Parliament want the Union government to respond to questions about the future of Indian students evacuated from the war-torn European country, as well as India’s current position on the situation.
Earlier on Tuesday, four union ministers – Hardeep Singh Puri, Kiren Rijiju, Jyotiraditya Scindia, and Gen VK Singh – who were dispatched to various countries bordering Ukraine as part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s special envoys during the evacuation process briefed the house on the evacuation of Indians under operation ganga.

On the other hand, Jaishankar spoke by phone with his US counterpart, US Secretary of State Tony Blinken, on Tuesday to discuss regional and global priorities, including the situation in Ukraine, according to a State Department spokesperson.
They agreed to keep each other updated on developments and look forward to meeting again soon, according to a call transcript. Jaishankar and Blinken communicate on the phone on a regular basis and meet at regular intervals. Jaishankar and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh are also expected to attend the first two-plus-two ministerial meetings between the two countries under the Biden administration.

Meanwhile, last week, Jaishankar defended its decision to seek “good deals” for its energy needs amid market volatility, pointing out that Europe has been a major buyer of Russian oil and gas even after the Ukraine crisis erupted.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar made the remarks at the India-UK Strategic Futures Forum in the presence of visiting British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss, shortly after extensive discussions with her on a variety of issues, including the situation in Ukraine.

“When oil prices rise, I believe it is natural for countries to go out into the market and look for the best deals for their people,” Jaishankar explained.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar made the remarks at the India-UK Strategic Futures Forum in the presence of visiting British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss, shortly after extensive discussions with her on a variety of issues, including the situation in Ukraine.

“When oil prices rise, I believe it is natural for countries to go out into the market and look for the best deals for their people,” Jaishankar explained.