In a historic moment for India-Ukraine relations, Prime Minister Narendra Modi made his first official visit to Ukraine on August 23, at the invitation of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. This landmark visit marked a new chapter in the diplomatic ties that were established between the two nations in 1992.
Elevating Political Relations
The discussions between Prime Minister Modi and President Zelenskyy underscored a mutual commitment to deepening bilateral ties. Both leaders expressed a shared interest in transitioning the relationship from a comprehensive partnership to a strategic one, rooted in mutual trust, respect, and transparency.
Reflecting on the steady progress made over the past three decades, they acknowledged the importance of regular interactions at various levels, including recent meetings in Apulia and Hiroshima, and engagements between their foreign affairs and security officials. The participation of Ukrainian delegations in key Indian events, such as the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit 2024 and the Raisina Dialogue 2024, was also acknowledged as vital to fostering mutual understanding.
Pursuing a Lasting Peace
The leaders reiterated their commitment to upholding the principles of international law, including respect for territorial integrity and state sovereignty. The Indian side reaffirmed its stance on peaceful conflict resolution through dialogue and diplomacy, as demonstrated by India’s participation in the Summit on Peace in Ukraine held in Switzerland in June 2024. President Zelenskyy welcomed India’s involvement and underscored the importance of continued high-level participation in upcoming peace initiatives.
The Joint Communiqué on a Peace Framework, adopted at the Swiss summit, was highlighted as a potential basis for advancing efforts towards a just and lasting peace. The leaders also recognized the critical role of global food security initiatives, particularly the Ukrainian humanitarian grain initiative, in ensuring the uninterrupted supply of agricultural products to markets in Asia and Africa.
Prime Minister Modi stressed the need for genuine and practical engagement among all stakeholders to develop widely accepted solutions that would contribute to the early restoration of peace. He reiterated India’s readiness to support these efforts in every possible way.
Enhancing Economic, Scientific, and Technical Cooperation
The discussions also covered the enhancement of cooperation in key areas such as trade, agriculture, pharmaceuticals, defense, education, science and technology, and culture. The leaders explored the potential for stronger partnerships in digital public infrastructure, green energy, and manufacturing.
The Indian-Ukrainian Intergovernmental Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific, Technical, Industrial, and Cultural Cooperation (IGC) was identified as a crucial platform for fostering a future-oriented economic partnership. The leaders recognized the need to restore and expand bilateral trade relations, which had declined since 2022 due to the ongoing conflict. Efforts to remove trade barriers and promote joint ventures were also encouraged.
In the pharmaceutical sector, both sides expressed a desire for greater market access and investment facilitation. The signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Indian Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and the Ukrainian State Service on Medicines and Drugs Control, along with the recent meeting of the Joint Working Group on Pharmaceutical Cooperation, were seen as positive steps forward.
The leaders also emphasized the importance of expanding the legal framework of bilateral relations, particularly in areas such as mutual protection of investments and recognition of educational qualifications.
Strengthening Defense Ties
Defense cooperation was highlighted as a key aspect of the bilateral relationship, with both leaders agreeing to work towards stronger ties between defense entities in both countries. This would include joint collaborations for manufacturing in India and cooperation in emerging defense technologies. The second meeting of the Indian-Ukrainian Joint Working Group on Military-Technical Cooperation, established under the 2012 Defense Cooperation Agreement, is expected to take place in India in the near future.
Cultural and People-to-People Connections
Cultural and people-to-people ties were recognized as vital components of the India-Ukraine relationship. The leaders welcomed the conclusion of a bilateral Programme of Cultural Cooperation and plans to hold cultural festivals in both countries. Scholarships under the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation programme and the General Cultural Scholarship Scheme were also noted as important initiatives.
The contribution of the Indian diaspora in Ukraine was acknowledged as a key factor in strengthening people-to-people connections. The Indian government expressed gratitude to Ukraine for its support during the evacuation of Indian students in 2022 and requested continued assistance in easing visa and registration processes for Indian nationals.
Collaborative Efforts in Reconstruction and Global Governance
The discussions also touched on the potential involvement of Indian companies in Ukraine’s reconstruction and recovery efforts. Both leaders strongly condemned terrorism and called for increased cooperation to combat extremism, stressing the importance of adhering to international law and the UN Charter.
The need for comprehensive reform of the UN Security Council was also discussed, with Ukraine reiterating its support for India’s bid for permanent membership in a reformed and expanded council. Additionally, the Indian side looked forward to Ukraine joining the International Solar Alliance (ISA).
– Ranu Jain