PM Modi reaffirms commitment to strengthening bilateral ties with Ukraine

New Delhi, Aug 23: Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv, marking the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Ukraine since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1992.

The leaders reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthening bilateral ties, emphasising the importance of mutual trust, respect, and openness in their relationship.

Prime Minister at the end of his one-day tour to Ukraine said in a message on X (former twitter), “My visit to Ukraine was historic. I came to this great nation with the aim of deepening India-Ukraine friendship. I had productive talks with President @ZelenskyyUa. India firmly believes that peace must always prevail. I thank the Government and people of Ukraine for their hospitality.”

During their discussions, Prime Minister Modi and President Zelenskyy reiterated their readiness to uphold international law, including the principles of the United Nations Charter, particularly the respect for territorial integrity and sovereignty of states. They agreed on the need for closer bilateral dialogue to reinforce these principles.

India’s principled position on resolving conflicts through dialogue and diplomacy was reiterated by the Indian side. Prime Minister Modi highlighted India’s participation in the Summit on Peace in Ukraine, held in Burgenstock, Switzerland, in June 2024, as part of its ongoing efforts to promote peace. The Ukrainian side welcomed India’s involvement and underscored the significance of high-level Indian participation in future Peace Summits.

The Ukrainian leadership emphasized that the Joint Communiqué on a Peace Framework, adopted at the Summit on Peace in Ukraine, could serve as a basis for ongoing efforts to achieve a just peace through dialogue, diplomacy, and adherence to international law.

Both leaders also discussed global food security, recognizing the crucial role of the Ukrainian humanitarian grain initiative. They stressed the importance of ensuring an uninterrupted and unhindered supply of agricultural products to global markets, with particular emphasis on Asia and Africa.

Prime Minister Modi called for sincere and practical engagement among all stakeholders to develop innovative solutions aimed at the early restoration of peace. He reiterated India’s willingness to contribute in all possible ways to facilitate a swift return to peace.

In addition to their discussions on global and regional issues, Prime Minister Modi and President Zelenskyy reviewed the steady progress in India-Ukraine relations over the past three decades. They highlighted the positive trajectory of bilateral ties, strengthened through regular engagements, including meetings in Apulia in June 2024 and Hiroshima in May 2023 on the margins of the G7 Summits, and the visit of Ukraine’s Foreign Minister to New Delhi in March 2024. Multiple interactions between high-level officials, including the 9th round of Foreign Office Consultations held in Kyiv in July 2023, have enhanced mutual understanding, trust, and cooperation.

The visit also saw the signing of four key agreements, including those in the fields of agriculture and food industry, medical products regulation, and an MoU on Indian humanitarian grant assistance for high-impact community development projects. A programme for cultural cooperation for 2024-2028 was also established.

“Prime Minister @narendramodi had fruitful discussions with President @ZelenskyyUA of Ukraine at the Maryinskyi Palace in Kyiv today. The two leaders took stock of bilateral ties and exchanged views on regional and global issues of mutual interest,” stated a Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson.