New Delhim Kyiv: Arriving in Ukraine’s capital Kyiv by a special train on a “landmark” visit to the war-torn nation from Poland on Friday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said “India stands firmly for peace” and told his host, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, that both his country and Russia need to engage each other to bring an end to their conflict that has raged on for two and a half years now.
Modi also made it clear that “any exercise, if it has to be productive, has to involve the other side”, adding that if he can “personally contribute” for peace efforts, he would definitely do so.
At the talks at the Maryinskyi Palace in Kyiv, India and Ukraine also decided to strengthen ties in a range of areas, including trade, defence, pharma, education and agriculture, and signed four pacts comprising grant assistance for high-impact community development projects in Ukraine that will help in its reconstruction, joint research in food and agriculture, regulation of medical products, and cooperation in culture. Modi also invited the Ukrainian President to visit India.
Speaking to reporters while being seated alongside President Zelenskyy, Modi was quoted in media reports from Kyiv as saying: “We (India) were not neutral from Day One. We have taken a side, and we stand firmly for peace… We have stayed away from the war with great conviction. This does not mean that we were indifferent.”
He was further quoted as telling President Zelenskyy: “I want to assure you and the entire world that this (peace) is India’s commitment and we believe that respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity is of utmost importance to us… and we support it. If I can personally contribute to this, I would like to do so. As a friend, I can assure you.”
On the humanitarian support provided by India, he was further quoted as telling the Ukrainian side: “India will always stand by you and will go above and beyond to support you.” The PM was also quoted as saying: “As a friend and partner, we hope for an early return to peace and stability in the region.”
Hailing the visit, President Zelenskyy later said on social media platform X that “today, history was made” and that “India supports Ukraine’s national sovereignty”. The Ukrainian President warmly shook hands and embraced Modi to welcome him to the Ukrainian capital.
The visit, the first by an Indian PM in over three decades of Ukrainian independence, came just one and a half months after Modi had visited Moscow and reflected the delicate balance that India has adopted. While India has not condemned the military offensive by its time-tested friend Russia, a joint statement released by India and Ukraine mentioned “further cooperation in upholding principles of international law, including the UN Charter, such as respect for territorial integrity and the sovereignty of states”. Expectedly, it did not contain any critical reference to Moscow, which Ukraine regards as an aggressor.
It stated: “Prime Minister Modi reiterated the need for sincere and practical engagement between all stakeholders to develop innovative solutions that will have broad acceptability and contribute towards an early restoration of peace. He reiterated India’s willingness to contribute in all possible ways to facilitate an early return of peace.”
At a special media briefing in Kyiv, external affairs minister S. Jaishankar said “much of the discussion (between the two leaders) was spent on the war in Ukraine” and that there was much “back and forth” during the talks which described as “detailed, open and constructive”. The minister added that the Ukrainian President knows that India means well for Ukraine and wants the conflict to stop at the earliest. He also said Ukraine “wants the continued involvement of India” in the peace efforts.
Expressing anguish over the deaths of innocents, including children, in the conflict which has “touched everyone”, Modi emphasised the need for “sincere and practical” talks between the two warring parties so as to ensure “broad acceptability” of proposals to end the conflict. He also said India was willing to offer all support and contribution to help resolve the conflict.
One of the key highlights of the visit was the visit by the two leaders to the “multimedia martyrologist exposition” at the Ukrainian National Museum of History" on the Ukrainian children who had lost their lives in the conflict, during which Modi was "deeply touched by the poignant exposition" and placed a toy as a mark of respect to their memory. Modi was told by the Ukrainian side that so far, “570 Ukrainian children have been killed in the Russian aggression”.
In the wake of the recent Ukrainian military advances in the Kursk region of Russia and the continued Russian advances in eastern Ukraine, Modi also sought President Zelenskyy's assessment on the ground situation on the battlefield and his diplomatic assessment as well.
Modi also reiterated his well-known stand to the Ukrainian President that there can be no solution found on the battlefield, that diplomacy and dialogue were key to resolving the conflict and that this was “not the time for war”. He also highlighted the negative effects of the conflict on the developing countries of the Global South.
On the occasion of his visit, Modi presented four “Bhishm Cubes” comprising crucial medicines and medical/surgical equipment, and which is the latest in the aid material being supplied by India to Ukraine, including medical support equipment and power generators.
Ukraine also apparently raised the issue during the talks of the Indian import of Russian oil in large quantities, following which India pointed out that the global “market for oil was tight” and that it was in the interests of everyone that oil prices remain stable.
At his briefing, Jaishankar pointed out that several other oil-producing nations (apart from Russia) are also facing (Western) sanctions like Iran and Venezuela, while pointing out that India “respects UN sanctions”. The minister asserted that there was “no political strategy” to buy oil from any country but rather only “market strategies” to buy oil globally.
