New Delhi;India on Monday said it is deeply concerned over the escalation of the conflict in Ukraine and called for immediate cessation of hostilities and urgent return to the path of “diplomacy and dialogue”.

The comments by External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi came amid intensification of hostilities, with Moscow carrying out retaliatory missile strikes on Ukraine in response to a huge blast in Crimea on Saturday.

Bagchi said escalation of hostilities is in no one’s interest and noted that India stands ready to support all such efforts aimed at de-escalation of the situation.

Press Trust of India