Live: India says it's on the 'side of peace' in Russia-Ukraine conflict

A woman walks next to a destroyed Russian armor vehicle in Bucha, in the outskirts of Kyiv, Ukraine, on April 5, 2022. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)

Live news updates: India is on the "side of peace" in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, condemns killings and wants peace, said External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar in Parliament on Wednesday.

Jaishankar said India is "deeply disturbed" at reports alleging that Russian forces killed civilians in the Ukrainian city of Bucha. "We strongly condemn the killings that have taken place there. This is an extremely serious matter and we support the call for an independent investigation," he said.

"If India has chosen a side, it is a side of peace and it is for an immediate end to violence. This is our principled stand and has consistently guided our position in international forums and debates, including in the UN," Jaishankar said in Lok Sabha.

Rajapaksa, governing the country since 2019 with other family members in top positions, revoked a state of emergency late on Tuesday after five days as dozens of lawmakers walked out of the ruling coalition, leaving his government in a minority.

People have been suffering from shortages of fuel, power, food, drugs and other items for weeks, and doctors say the entire health system could collapse in weeks. Street protests began a month ago and have intensified in recent days, with people openly defying the emergency and a weekend curfew, said Reuters.