India and Ukraine signed four agreements. They pledged to develop their partnership on several key areas such as defense, trade, pharmaceuticals, green energy, and education. The commitment was repeated during talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, whereby both agreed to boost their bilateral relationship ahead.
During the elaborate talks, both Modi and Zelenskyy also expressed a desire to raise their relationship from a comprehensive partnership to a strategic level.
Both leaders emphasized the role of defence cooperation in their ties and agreed to take relations with each other on a higher trajectory through joint projects and partnerships for production of military equipment in India.
The visit of Modi to Kyiv became the first by an Indian prime minister since Ukraine's independence in 1991 and was undertaken by a special train.
While the Russia-Ukraine conflict dominated the agenda of the Modi-Zelenskyy talks, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar said a good part of the discussions was on ways to strengthen bilateral ties.
They discussed various issues related to trade, economic affairs, defense, pharmaceuticals, agriculture, and education. The leaders called for the intergovernmental commission between India and Ukraine to give priority to the renewal and diversification of trade and economic relations, Jaishankar told a news conference.
Ukraine reiterated its support for India's candidature for permanent membership of an expanded and reformed United Nations Security Council, the joint statement said.
Agreements signed shall provide impetus to cooperation in agriculture, food industry, medicine, culture, and humanitarian aid.
The leaders took up the need to enhance the cooperation in various fields like trade, commerce, agriculture, pharmaceuticals, defence, education, science, technology and culture. Both sides also discussed how to deepen cooperation in digital public infrastructure and industry, manufacturing and green energy.
Against the background of a sharp decline in bilateral trade in 2022 caused by the war, the leaders tasked the co-chairs of the IGC to work out measures aimed not only at restoring but also expanding and deepening trade and economic relations.
Modi and Zelenskyy underlined the need to simplify business procedures and eliminate barriers to trade, creating more active official and business-level contacts for discussing joint projects and ventures.
The Leaders also acknowledged the Pharmaceuticals sector as an area of significant cooperation and reiterated their commitment to improving market access and investments and joint ventures, including through simplified procedures for testing, inspection, and registration.
Both sides agreed to hasten the establishment of a legal framework for bilateral relations, in particular, those related to investment protection and mutual recognition of academic degrees.
They also discussed the prospects of the participation of Indian companies in the reconstruction and restoration of Ukraine.
Modi invited Zelenskyy to visit India.
The two leaders came out strongly against terrorism and sought an effective fight against all forms of terrorism and extremism in the joint statement. They underlined that their cooperation should be enhanced on the basis of international law and the principles and purposes enshrined in the UN Charter.
The parties also urged far-reaching reform of the UN Security Council, aimed at bringing it into conformity with existing realities of the contemporary world and enhancing its effectiveness in the sphere of guaranteeing global peace and security.
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