New Delhi. 23 August 2024. On August 23, 2024, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Ukraine at the invitation of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. This historic visit marks the first time an Indian Prime Minister has set foot in Ukraine since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1992. The visit underscored the deepening relationship between the two countries, spanning political, economic, and cultural dimensions, and opened new avenues for cooperation and dialogue.
During their meetings, Prime Minister Modi and President Zelenskyy expressed a shared interest in elevating India-Ukraine relations from a comprehensive partnership to a strategic partnership. Both leaders emphasized the importance of mutual trust, respect, and openness in further developing bilateral ties for the benefit of their peoples. They reviewed the progress made over the last three decades and highlighted the significance of regular engagements, such as meetings at the G7 Summits, Foreign Office Consultations, and high-level visits, in enhancing mutual understanding and cooperation.
Both leaders reiterated their commitment to upholding international law, including the principles of the UN Charter, such as respect for territorial integrity and sovereignty of states. They agreed on the need for closer bilateral dialogue on these issues and emphasized peaceful resolution through dialogue and diplomacy. The Ukrainian side welcomed India’s participation in the Summit on Peace in Ukraine and highlighted the importance of India’s continued involvement in promoting a just and lasting peace.
The leaders also discussed global food security, stressing the need for uninterrupted agricultural exports, particularly to Asia and Africa. Prime Minister Modi reiterated India’s readiness to contribute to peace efforts and called for sincere engagement among all stakeholders to find innovative solutions.
The visit also focused on enhancing economic cooperation in various sectors, including trade, agriculture, pharmaceuticals, defense, education, science, and technology. Both leaders recognized the importance of the Indian-Ukrainian Intergovernmental Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific, Technical, Industrial, and Cultural Cooperation (IGC) in facilitating a stronger economic partnership. They also discussed ways to restore and expand bilateral trade, which has been affected by the ongoing conflict, and emphasized the need to enhance the ease of doing business and remove barriers to trade.
Additionally, the leaders highlighted the strong ties in agriculture and pharmaceuticals and expressed a desire to broaden cooperation in these sectors. They encouraged mutual recognition of educational documents and the expansion of scientific and technological collaboration, particularly in emerging areas such as ICT, AI, biotechnology, and green energy.
Recognizing the importance of defense cooperation, both leaders agreed to strengthen relationships between defense entities in India and Ukraine, including joint collaborations and partnerships for manufacturing and cooperation in emerging areas. They also planned to convene the second meeting of the Indian-Ukrainian Joint Working Group on Military-Technical Cooperation in India.
The leaders underscored the significance of cultural and people-to-people ties in fostering the enduring friendship between India and Ukraine. They welcomed initiatives like the bilateral Programme of Cultural Cooperation and agreed to hold cultural festivals in both countries. The sides also discussed expanding educational exchanges and appreciated the contribution of the Indian diaspora in Ukraine.
India expressed gratitude to Ukraine for assisting in the evacuation of Indian students in 2022 and requested continued support for easier visa and registration facilities for Indian nationals and students. Ukraine thanked India for its humanitarian assistance and looked forward to Indian companies’ involvement in Ukraine’s reconstruction.
Both sides condemned terrorism and called for increased cooperation in combating extremism. They also supported comprehensive reforms of the UN Security Council and reiterated Ukraine’s backing of India’s bid for permanent membership.
The visit concluded with Prime Minister Modi thanking President Zelenskyy and the Ukrainian people for their warm hospitality. The leaders agreed that their comprehensive discussions and exchange of views on regional and global issues had further strengthened the bilateral relationship, reflecting the depth of mutual understanding and trust between India and Ukraine. Prime Minister Modi extended an invitation to President Zelenskyy to visit India at a mutually convenient time, looking forward to continuing their dialogue and cooperation in the future.
