Unacceptable and must be avoided: MEA

NEW DELHI: India summoned the Ukrainian ambassador Monday to condemn attacks on commercial shipping, underscoring the adverse impact of such attacks on the safety of maritime navigation, freedom of navigation and international commerce.However, Ukraine claimed it had warned India about the growing threats to civilian navigation from Russia’s actions in Black Sea, saying the only sustainable way to restore maritime security was to increase international pressure on Russia to end its attacks on civilian shipping. In a statement, the Ukrainian embassy here also sought dialogue between the foreign ministers on the Black Sea security situation.Ukrainian ambassador Oleksandr Polishchuk was summoned by the MEA in connection with the attack on the commercial vessel MV Omorfi that resulted in the death of an Indian national. The ministry said it conveyed its serious concern over the incident and condemned such attacks on commercial shipping in the strongest terms.“The ambassador was requested to convey to the Ukrainian authorities India’s strong concerns over the targeting of commercial vessels and reiterated that such actions, which endanger the lives of innocent civilian seafarers, are unacceptable and must be avoided,” the ministry said.The attacks by both Russian and Ukrainian forces on commercial shipping have caused the deaths of five Indian seafarers. In the latest such attack, a merchant vessel carrying four Indians was struck at Ukraine’s port of Odesa. While two Indian crew members were confirmed safe, information about the other two is awaited.Ukrainian embassy here said in a statement that foreign minister Andrii Sybiha had written to his counterpart S Jaishankar expressing sympathy for the families of Indian seafarers who lost their lives as a result of the deteriorating security situation in the Black Sea.“We hope that, following the relevant proposal made by the minister of foreign affairs of Ukraine, a conversation between the foreign ministers of our two countries will take place in the nearest future to discuss in detail the current security situation in the Black Sea region,” the Ukraine statement said.According to the embassy, Ukraine had consistently warned its international partners, including senior Indian officials, about the growing threats to civilian navigation arising from Russia’s actions in the Black Sea.“Ukraine has also informed its partners about the measures it is taking to prevent the delivery of military cargo and disrupt logistical routes used to sustain Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine,” it said.The embassy also said that timely and preventive action by competent authorities was vital to protecting seafarers, ensuring the safety of civilian navigation, and strengthening international maritime security in regions where such threats were clearly identified.