Mexico on Thursday formally proposed the formation of a peace committee with Prime Minister Narendra Modi globally to end Russia's aggression, as part of peace efforts amid the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine.
Mexico's Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard said in the resolution that a panel should be formed for dialogue and peace in Ukraine with Modi, Pope Francis and other leaders, to boost the mediation efforts of UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. Ebrard told the Security Council in Ukraine that its purpose would be very clear so that additional efforts would be made to mediate and build a new mechanism for dialogue. This can foster trust, reduce stress and open the way to lasting peace.
Ebrard presented to the council a proposal made by Mexican President Andres Manuel López Obrador in his Independence Day speech on Friday. In that speech, Ebrard said the panel, along with Modi and Francis, should call for an immediate end to hostilities in Ukraine and start direct talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky.
He said the Security Council—and the international community—has failed to end the attack because Russia has a veto on the Security Council. India has maintained a sort of neutrality on Russia's invasion of Ukraine and has avoided important votes in the Council and the General Assembly condemning Moscow. India, which has close ties with Russia, has consistently called for an end to the war. Last week, Modi personally sent a strong message to Putin against the attack. During the meeting in Samarkand, Modi told them that today's era is not the era of war. After Ebrard, India's Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar reiterated New Delhi's call to end the conflict and return to talks.