PM Modi's Ukraine visit: Key takeaways from discussions on peace, trade, and defence

Prime Minister Narendra Modi with the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the Mariinsky Palace, in Kyiv, Ukraine, on August 23, 2024. (PTI Photo)

Narendra Modi made history on August 23 as the first Indian Prime Minister to visit Ukraine since diplomatic relations were established between the two nations in 1992. During his visit, he met President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and the two leaders discussed a wide range of topics, including peace, economic cooperation, culture, and defense.

Here are the key takeaways from the visit:

Strengthening political relations: PM Modi and Zelenskyy discussed elevating India-Ukraine relations from a comprehensive partnership to a strategic one. They reaffirmed their commitment to building ties based on mutual trust and respect, while reviewing the positive trajectory of relations that have grown significantly over the past three decades.

The joint statement highlighted that regular meetings between Indian and Ukrainian officials, including at the G7 Summits in Apulia (June 2024) and Hiroshima (May 2023), have strengthened mutual understanding and cooperation. It further stated that key engagements included the visit of the Ukrainian Foreign Minister to New Delhi in March 2024 and the 9th round of Foreign Office Consultations in Kyiv in July 2023.

Pushing for global peace: Both leaders emphasized their dedication to upholding international law and promoting peace through dialogue and diplomacy. The Joint Statement made a commitment to international law, India's participation in next Peace Summit, India's role in future peace efforts, global food security, uninterrupted agricultural supply, and India's Commitment to Peace.

Economic Cooperation: India and Ukraine agreed to expand their economic ties in sectors like trade, agriculture, pharmaceuticals, and technology. They aim to restore trade to pre-war levels and explore new areas for collaboration, including digital infrastructure and green energy.

Health and pharma partnerships: Both nations signed agreements to boost cooperation in the pharmaceutical sector, ensuring access to affordable and quality medicines. They also discussed joint ventures and market access improvements for pharmaceutical products.

Defence collaboration: PM Modi and Zelenskyy emphasized the importance of defense cooperation, agreeing to strengthen ties between the defense sectors of both countries. They plan to hold further meetings on military-technical cooperation and explore joint manufacturing initiatives.

Cultural exchange and education: India and Ukraine signed a cultural cooperation agreement to promote exchanges in arts, theatre, and literature. Both sides also discussed mutual recognition of educational degrees and possible collaborations in higher education.

Humanitarian efforts: India committed to providing humanitarian grant assistance to Ukraine for community development projects. The two countries are also exploring ways for Indian companies to assist in Ukraine’s post-war reconstruction.

Condemning terrorism: The leaders strongly condemned terrorism in all forms and emphasized the importance of international cooperation to combat extremism.

UN reform: Ukraine reiterated its support for India’s bid for permanent membership in a reformed UN Security Council.