Kyiv:

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday invited President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to visit India and the Ukrainian leader said he would be happy to travel to the “great” country.

PM Modi invited Zelenskyy during his wide-ranging talks with the Ukrainian President.

Prime Minister Modi paid a nearly nine-hour visit to Kyiv in the first-ever trip to Ukraine by an Indian PM since it became independent over three decades back.

At a media briefing following the talks between the two leaders, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar confirmed that PM Modi invited Zelenskyy to visit India.

“It’s significant that our prime minister has visited Ukraine for the first time since 1992. It is natural on such occasions that he extends an invitation, which he did in this case,” he said.

“So we expect that at some point, as per his convenience, President Zelenskyy will visit India,” Mr Jaishankar added.

A joint statement also said that PM Modi invited Zelenskyy to visit India at a mutually convenient opportunity.

Asked at a media briefing on Modi’s invitation, Zelenskyy said he would be happy to come to India.

“Yes because when you begin a strategic partnership, and you begin some dialogue, I think that you don’t need to waste time and do a big pause and that’s why I think it will be good to meet together again,” he said.

The Ukrainian President also said he wants India to be on the side of his country.

“I read a lot about your big and great country. It’s very interesting,” he said, adding “I very much need your country on our side.” “I will be happy to come to India as soon as your government and prime minister will be ready to see me,” Zelenskyy said.

At the same time, he suggested the visit will also depend on the situation in Ukraine.

Meanwhile, Mr Jaishankar, in response to a question, said that India’s energy trade with Russia also came up for discussion.

“Yes, it did. I wouldn’t say at great length, but what we did was to explain to the Ukrainian side what was the energy market scenario, the fact that today many energy producers are sanctioned, making the market potentially very tight; and why actually today there is a compulsion, in fact not just a compulsion, I mean why it is in the interest of the international economy as a whole, that oil prices remain reasonable and stable,” he said.

India, the world’s third largest oil-consuming and importing nation, in July bought USD 2.8 billion worth of crude oil from Russia, second only to China which remains the largest importer of Russian oil, the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) said in a report.

Russia emerged as India’s biggest supplier of crude oil, which is converted into fuels like petrol and diesel in refineries, after Russian oil became available at a discount following some European nations shunning purchases from Moscow over its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

Imports from Russia, which were less than one per cent of the total oil imported in the pre-Ukraine war period, now make up for almost 40 per cent of India’s total oil purchases.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Kyiv:

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Friday said he looks forward to visiting India as it can be a “key” in the global diplomatic efforts to end the war between his country and Russia.

“India (is a) big influential country, not only in the world (but) also through the circle of very skeptical countries. If we will change India’s attitude to this war and to Russia, we will stop the war, because Putin will want to stop it,” Zeleskyy said in reply to a question while interacting with the visiting Indian media.

The Ukrainian president described Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s first visit to Kyiv as “historic.” During their bilateral talks, PM Modi invited Zelenskyy to visit India.

“Modi’s visit was historic,” and added: “I very much need your country on our side, not balancing between the US and Russia.” PM Modi’s nearly nine-hour visit to Ukraine, the first by an Indian prime minister since Ukraine’s independence in 1991, came six weeks after he held summit talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in July in Moscow.

During the bilateral talks, PM Modi had earlier told Zelenskyy that both Ukraine and Russia should sit together without wasting time to find ways to end the ongoing war and that India had been on the side of peace since the beginning of the conflict in February 2022.

“When you begin a strategic partnership, and you begin some dialogue, you don’t need to lose time. That’s why I think it will be good to meet together again, and if our meeting will be in India, I’ll be happy,” Zelenskyy said.

“I think, to understand a country is to understand people also. It’s better to be in your country because to find the key to your country and to your Prime Minister is to see your people and I need very much to find the key to your country, because I very much need your country on our side, not balancing between the US and Russia,” he said.

“It’s not about your historical choice, but who knows, maybe your country can be the key in this diplomatic influence,” he said, adding, “That’s why I’ll be happy to come to India as soon as your government, Prime Minister (PM Modi) will be ready to see me.” Replying to another question, he said, “We want him (PM Modi) very much to have peace summits, and of course we will be happy to work on it and of course, if he has his ideas, we will be happy to discuss it.

“But we don’t change our territories on any propositions … we don’t change our people to any propositions, our territories our values and our freedom and democracy to any propositions … we will not change,” he said.

“PM Modi wants peace more than Putin. The problem is Putin doesn’t want (peace). I don’t know what they spoke during their meeting. But I ….” Zelenskyy said and shrugged with an expression of exasperation.

Asked about the discussion about defence production, Zelenskyy said, “We spoke basically about some technologies (but) we are open for a very big deal if India will be ready.” Answering a question about India not supporting a UN resolution (against Russia some months ago), Zelenskyy said he wanted to forgo what happened in the past and “before new resolutions, we have to speak, we have to make more strong relations between our country (and India) before new decisions.” “We will not have big challenges in our relations in the future. And I will focus on it, on future relations between our countries,” he added.

Pointing out that there are very significant contracts between India and Russia vis-a-vis oil, the Ukrainian president said, “Putin is afraid of losing the economy, he has nothing except for oil, his main currency is oil. They do have a kind of energy-based economy, and they’re export-oriented.” “So, the countries importing energy resources from the Russian Federation, then they will be helping the whole world,” he added.

On Indian citizens in Ukrainian prison, Zelenskyy denied there were any but added that if there were, he would release them and immediately inform PM Modi.

He said he read media reports about the death of some Indian nationals working for the Russian Army in its war with Ukraine.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Kyiv:

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has given a measured response on what he expects from Republican US presidential candidate Donald Trump if the former President wins the election again.

Mr Zelensky, responding to a question by NDTV on whether he expects Mr Trump to support Ukraine’s war effort, he said, “We will see in November.”

The US election is scheduled in November. Mr Trump and the Democratic nominee Kamala Harris will get in the ring for the ultimate fight.

“But anyway I didn’t get any signal from his (Mr Trump’s) team or from him. We had one bilateral talk during this period of time, during wartime we had one phone call. I only had messages that he would support Ukraine, will do everything to stop the war, and to do everything for Ukraine to remain independent, European and free,” Mr Zelensky said.

 “That is all the messages I have got from him directly. But anyway I can’t prognosis, so we will see in November what will be,” said the Ukrainian President whose country is fighting a war against Russia.

Mr Zelensky was speaking to reporters after meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Kyiv. It was the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister since Ukraine’s independence in 1991.

PM Modi’s visit to Kyiv was seen in many quarters as a diplomatic balancing act as his trip to Russia triggered anguish among some Western countries. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said PM Modi reiterated the need for “practical engagement” between all stakeholders to develop an innovative solution that will help build broad acceptability and contribute towards peace and stability.

During the bilateral talks, PM Modi had earlier told Mr Zelensky that both Ukraine and Russia should sit together without wasting time to find ways to end the war, and that India had been on the side of peace since the beginning of the conflict in February 2022.

“When you begin a strategic partnership, and you begin some dialogue, you don’t need to lose time. That’s why I think it will be good to meet together again, and if our meeting will be in India, I’ll be happy,” Mr Zelensky said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi exchanged greetings with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on his arrival at Mariinsky Palace, in Kyiv on Friday (August 23, 2024).
| Photo Credit: ANI

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Friday (August 23, 2024) that India supported his country’s national sovereignty and territorial integrity, underscoring that New Delhi’s support was “critical” because everyone in the world must equally respect the UN Charter.

“Today, history was made. The Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, made his first visit to Ukraine since our country’s independence, on the eve of our Independence Day,” Mr. Zelenskyy posted on X (formerly Twitter) after holding talks with PM Narendra Modi.

Mr. Modi arrived in Kyiv this morning on a special train on the first-ever visit to Ukraine by an Indian Prime Minister after it became independent in 1991.

Mr. Zelenskyy noted that four documents between Ukraine and India, covering the medical field, agricultural cooperation, humanitarian relations, and culture, were signed.

Also Read: PM Modi in Ukraine highlights: India hands over BHISHM cubes to Ukraine

Following the visit, “we also agreed on a joint statement focusing on the development of a strategic partnership, bilateral trade, and continued military-technical cooperation.”

“India supports Ukraine’s national sovereignty and territorial integrity. And this is critical because everyone in the world must equally respect the UN Charter,” Mr. Zelenskyy emphasised.

In his talks with Mr. Zelenskyy that took place under the shadow of the raging war, Mr. Modi said India is ever ready to play an “active role” in every effort to restore peace in Ukraine and he would even like to contribute personally in ending the conflict.

“We [India] are not neutral. From the very beginning, we have taken sides. And we have chosen the side of peace. We have come from the land of Buddha where there is no place for war,” Mr. Modi said in his opening remarks during the talks.

“We have come from the land of Mahatma Gandhi who had given a message of peace to the entire world,” he said.

The Prime Minister also asserted India’s strong commitment towards respecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of states.

Also Read: Four pacts inked as PM Modi ends ‘landmark’ Ukraine visit

“I want to assure you and the entire global community that India is committed to respecting sovereignty and territorial integrity (of states) and it is of utmost importance to us,” he said.

Mr. Modi also apprised Mr. Zelenskyy of his conversations with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Samarkand in September 2022 as well as in Moscow last month.

“Some time back, when I met President Putin in Samarkand, I had told him that this was not the era of war. Last month when I went to Russia, I said in clear words that a solution to any problem is never found on the battlefield,” Mr. Modi said.

“The solution comes through talks, dialogue and diplomacy and we should move ahead in that direction without wasting time. Both sides should sit together and find ways to come out of this crisis,” Mr. Modi said.

The Prime Minister’s visit to Kyiv is seen in many quarters as a diplomatic balancing act as his trip to Russia triggered anguish among some Western countries.

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar said Mr. Modi reiterated the need for “practical engagement” between all stakeholders to develop an innovative solution that will help build broad acceptability and contribute towards peace and stability.

The Prime Minister conveyed to Mr. Zelenskyy India’s willingness to contribute in “all possible ways” to facilitate an early return of peace to Ukraine, he told journalists.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi undertook a visit to Ukraine today, at the invitation of the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky. This was the first-ever visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Ukraine since diplomatic relations were established between the two countries in 1992.

Political Relations

2. Both leaders expressed mutual interest in elevating bilateral relations from a comprehensive partnership to a strategic partnership in the future.

3. They reaffirmed their commitment to further developing bilateral ties for the benefit of the peoples of both countries based on mutual trust, respect, and openness.

4. The Leaders reviewed the steady and positive trajectory of bilateral ties that have strengthened significantly over the last three decades, and appreciated the role played by regular engagements between India and Ukraine at various levels, including their meetings in Apulia in June 2024 and in Hiroshima in May 2023 on the margins of the G7 Summits, the visit of the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine to New Delhi in March 2024, multiple interactions and telephone conversations between the External Affairs Minister of India and the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine; between the National Security Advisor of India and the Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, and the 9th round of Foreign Office Consultations held in Kyiv in July 2023, in enhancing mutual understanding, trust, and cooperation.

5. The Leaders appreciated the participation of Ukrainian official delegations in the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit 2024, and the Raisina Dialogue 2024.

Ensuring a Comprehensive, Just, and Lasting Peace

6. Prime Minister Modi and President Zelensky reiterated their readiness for further cooperation in upholding principles of international law, including the UN Charter, such as respect for territorial integrity and sovereignty of states. They agreed on the desirability of closer bilateral dialogue in this regard.

7. The Indian side reiterated its principled position and focus on peaceful resolution through dialogue and diplomacy, as a part of which, India has attended the Summit on Peace in Ukraine, held in Burgenstock, Switzerland, in June 2024.

8. The Ukrainian side welcomed such participation by India and highlighted the importance of high-level Indian participation in the next Peace Summit.

9. The Ukrainian side conveyed that the Joint Communiqué on a Peace Framework, adopted at the Summit on Peace in Ukraine, could serve as a basis for further efforts to promote just peace based on dialogue, diplomacy, and international law.

10. The Leaders appreciated various efforts to ensure global food security, including the Ukrainian humanitarian grain initiative. The importance of an uninterrupted and unhindered supply of agricultural products to global markets, especially in Asia and Africa, was emphasized.

11. 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 the early restoration of peace. He reiterated India’s willingness to contribute in all possible ways to facilitate an early return of peace.

Economic, Scientific and Technical Cooperation

12. The leaders discussed the enhancement of cooperation in areas such as trade and commerce, agriculture, pharmaceuticals, defence, education, science & technology, and culture, apart from exploring a stronger partnership in domains such as digital public infrastructure, industry, manufacturing, green energy etc., including through greater involvement of business and industry from both nations.

13. The leaders emphasized the importance of the Indian-Ukrainian Intergovernmental Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific, Technical, Industrial and Cultural Cooperation (IGC) in facilitating a future-oriented and stronger economic partnership between the two countries.

14. They appreciated the review of the IGC conducted during the visit of the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine to India in March 2024 and the efforts to hold the meetings of the Joint Working Groups with a view to early convening of the 7th Session of the IGC at a mutually convenient time in 2024. The Ukrainian side welcomed the appointment of the External Affairs Minister of India, Dr. S. Jaishankar as the Co-Chair/Chairperson of the IGC.

15. In light of the significant reduction in the annual bilateral trade in goods since the year 2022 due to the challenges related to the ongoing war, the leaders directed the Co-Chairs of the IGC to explore all possible ways to not only restore bilateral trade and economic relations to pre-conflict levels but expand and deepen them further.

16. The Leaders emphasized the importance of enhancing the ease of doing business for mutual economic activities and investments, apart from removing any impediments for greater trade and commerce between India and Ukraine. The sides also encouraged greater engagement at official and business levels to explore joint projects, collaborations, and ventures.

17. The Leaders recalled the strong ties between the two sides in the domain of agriculture and the desirability of enhancing bilateral interaction and market access on the basis of strengths in complementary areas, including the harmonization of standards and certification procedures.

18. Recognizing cooperation in pharmaceutical products as one of the strongest pillars of the partnership, the Leaders reaffirmed the desire for greater market access and facilitation of investments and joint ventures including through testing, inspection, and registration procedures. Both sides expressed the desire for broadening cooperation on drugs and pharmaceuticals, including in training and sharing of best practices. They welcomed the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare of the Republic of India and the State Service of Ukraine on Medicines and Drugs Control, and the holding of the 3rd Meeting of the Indian-Ukrainian Joint Working Group on Pharmaceutical Cooperation in August 2024 in virtual mode. The Ukrainian side also appreciated India as an assured source for the supply of cost-effective and quality medicines.

19. The sides agreed to expedite work on expanding the legal framework of bilateral relations, particularly regarding mutual protection of investments, and exploring mutual recognition of educational documents; academic degrees; and titles.

20. Noting the successful implementation of the agreement between India and Ukraine on scientific and technological cooperation, the effective functioning of the Indian-Ukrainian Joint Working Group on Scientific and Technical Cooperation, and the completion of bilateral research projects, the sides encouraged the holding of regular exchanges and programmes, especially in areas such as ICT, AI, machine learning, cloud services, biotechnology, new materials, green energy, and earth sciences. The sides welcomed the 8th Meeting of the JWG on Scientific and Technological Cooperation held on 20 June 2024.

Defence Cooperation

21. Underlining the importance of defence cooperation between India and Ukraine, the Leaders agreed to continue to work towards facilitating a stronger relationship between the defence entities in both countries, including through joint collaborations and partnerships for manufacturing in India and cooperation in emerging areas. The sides agreed to hold the 2nd meeting of the Indian-Ukrainian Joint Working Group on Military-Technical Cooperation, established under the 2012 Defence Cooperation Agreement, in the near future in India.

Cultural and People-to-People Ties

22. Recognizing the key role played by cultural and people-to-people ties in the enduring friendship between India and Ukraine, the sides welcomed the conclusion of the bilateral Programme of Cultural Cooperation, and the decision to hold festivals of culture in India and Ukraine. The Leaders emphasized the importance of sustaining and further expanding people-to-people and cultural exchanges, including through scholarships offered under the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation programme and the General Cultural Scholarship Scheme of the Indian Council for Cultural Relations.

23. The sides agreed to explore the possibility of mutual opening of branches of higher education institutions to meet the educational needs of citizens of both countries.

24. The Leaders appreciated the contribution of the Indian diaspora in Ukraine to the development of friendly relations and people-to-people contacts between the two countries.

25. The Indian side reiterated its gratitude to the Ukrainian side for its help and support in the evacuation of Indian students from Ukraine in the early months of the year 2022 and for ensuring the safety and well-being of all Indian nationals and students who have returned to Ukraine since then. The Indian side requested the Ukrainian side’s continued support on easier visa and registration facilities for Indian nationals and students.

26. The Ukrainian side conveyed its gratitude to the Indian side for the humanitarian assistance provided to Ukraine and welcomed the conclusion of the Memorandum of Understanding on High Impact Community Development Projects between India and Ukraine which will enable the development of mutually agreed projects through Indian grant assistance.

27. The sides agreed to explore the possibility of the involvement of Indian companies in Ukraine’s reconstruction and recovery, in a suitable manner.

28. The Leaders were unequivocal in their condemnation of terrorism. They called for an uncompromising fight against terrorism and extremism in all their forms and manifestations, noting the importance of increasing cooperation in this area on the basis of international law and the UN Charter.

29. Both sides called for comprehensive reform of the UN Security Council to reflect contemporary global realities and to make it more representative, effective and efficient in dealing with issues of international peace and security. Ukraine reiterated its support for India’s permanent membership of a reformed and expanded UN Security Council.

30. The Indian Side looked forward to Ukraine’s joining of the International Solar Alliance (ISA).

31. The Leaders’ comprehensive discussions on the entire spectrum of bilateral ties and exchange of views on regional and global issues of shared interest reflected the depth as well as mutual understanding and trust that mark India-Ukraine relations.

32. Prime Minister Modi thanked President Zelensky for the warm hospitality extended to him and his delegation during the visit and invited him to visit India at a mutually convenient opportunity.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during presentation of BHISHM cube to Ukraine, in Kyiv, on August 23, 2024.
| Photo Credit: PTI

External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar on Friday (August 23, 2024) said that India has handed over 10 BHISHM cubes, which contain medical support equipment of 22 tonnes along with 10 generator sets.

PM Modi in Ukraine LIVE

The presentation of the Bharat Health Initiative for Sahyog Hita and Maitri (BHISHM) cubes has been one of the key highlights of the ongoing visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to war-affected Ukraine.

The BHISHM Cubes, also known as Arokya Maitri cubes, are critical trauma care cubes that have been indigenously developed by Project BHISHM under Project Aarogya Maitri .

Spearheaded by HLL Life Care, the government’s designated agency for sourcing the kit, and manufactured by multiple sellers collaborating to provide a diverse range of essential medical products, this project was initiated in 2022 through the Ministry of Defence.

The BHISHM cubes are an easy-to-use, mobile medical facility that can be swiftly deployed to save lives in the most challenging circumstances. It can provide critical medical care to 100 survivors for up to 48 hours, making it a lifeline on remote and tough terrains where immediate medical attention is needed.

According to reports, the aid cube is equipped with several innovative tools designed to enhance disaster response and medical support during emergencies. It integrates Artificial Intelligence (AI) and data analytics to facilitate effective coordination, real-time monitoring, and efficient management of medical services in the field.

Each cube consists of a fully equipped operation theatre, mini-ICUs, ventilators, blood-testing equipment, an X-ray machine, and even a cooking station. It also includes a shelter facility and power generator, making it entirely self-sufficient during emergencies.

The life-saving equipment are packed in a set of “mini-cubes” and a combination of these mini-cubes is used to set up a mobile hospital capable of performing life-saving surgery. The mini-cubes are carried in a “Aarogya Maitri Cube Cage”, which has three frames, each accommodating 12 mini-cubes. An Aarogya Maitri Cube Cage can fit 36 mini-cubes overall.

Earlier, the central government in collaboration with the Indian Air Force and Indian Army carried out a first-of-its-kind precise para-drop operation of the Aarogya Maitri Health Cube at a high-altitude area close to 15,000 feet on August 17, 2024. It was also deployed at Ayodhya for the inauguration ceremony, the ‘Pran Pratishtha,’ of the Ram Mandir on 22nd January.

India has already gifted these units as a goodwill gesture to Sri Lanka and Myanmar.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid homage at the Martyrologist exposition on children in Kyiv along with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky and said “Conflict is particularly devastating for young children”. The Prime Minister arrived in Kyiv earlier today after a nearly seven-hour trip from Poland to hold talks with the Ukraine President. Russia and Ukraine have been involved in a long-drawn conflict for the last 2.5 years.

Martyrologist exposition has been built in memory of children who lost their lives in the ongoing conflict which has witnessed intense battles in several cities of Ukraine. 

“My heart goes out to the families of children who lost their lives, and I pray that they find the strength to endure their grief,” the Prime Minister said in a post on X, where he paid homage to the children who have died in the conflict.

President @ZelenskyyUa and I paid homage at the Martyrologist Exposition in Kyiv.

Conflict is particularly devastating for young children. My heart goes out to the families of children who lost their lives, and I pray that they find the strength to endure their grief. pic.twitter.com/VQH1tun5ok

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 23, 2024

The two leaders are scheduled to hold both one-on-one and delegation-level talks with a focus on ways to find a negotiated settlement to the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Ukraine President paid their respects by keeping a toy in memory of the children who died. President Zelensky shared a video on X where he wrote “Children in every country deserve to live in safety. We must take this possible.”

Today in Kyiv, Prime Minister @NarendraModi and I honored the memory of the children whose lives were taken by Russian aggression.

Children in every country deserve to live in safety. We must make this possible. pic.twitter.com/gKdjqcL5iz

— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) August 23, 2024

India has advocated dialogue and diplomacy since the beginning of the conflict which began on February 24, 2022. On several occasions, the Prime Minister has said that this is “not the era of war”. In his joint statement with the Polish Prime Minister, he underscored the relevance of dialogue and diplomacy to resolve disputes between nations.

PM Modi last met Mr Zelensky in June on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Italy’s Apulia. In the meeting, he conveyed to the Ukrainian President that India would continue to do everything within its means to support a peaceful solution to the Ukraine conflict and that the way to peace is through “dialogue and diplomacy”.

He also told Mr Zelensky that India believes in a “human-centric” approach to finding a solution to the conflict in Ukraine. In that meeting, the Ukrainian president invited the prime minister to Kyiv. His Ukraine visit comes nearly six weeks after his high-profile trip to Russia during which he held extensive talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin largely with a focus on ending the conflict.

IANS:

UN Secretary-General hopes that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Ukraine will contribute to ending the war, his Spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said on Thursday.

Asked for a reaction to Prime Minister Modi’s visit to Ukraine amid the war, Dujarric said, “We’ve seen a lot of heads of state and government travel to the region (and) we hope that all of these visits will bring us closer to an end of the conflict in line with General Assembly resolutions, international law, and the territorial integrity.”

The General Assembly has demanded an end to the Russian invasion in at least three resolutions and in another to stop attacks on Ukraine’s infrastructure. India has abstained on the resolutions.

Prime Minister Modi is scheduled to go to Ukraine on Friday where he is to meet President Volodymyr Zelensky.

The Kyiv visit follows his trip to Russia last month, where he discussed the Ukraine situation with Russia’s President Vladimir Putin.

According to reports, he will convey messages between Ukraine and Russia.

An India-Russia joint statement at the end of Prime Minister Modi’s Moscow visit said that the two leaders “highlighted the imperative of peaceful resolution of the conflict around Ukraine through dialogue and diplomacy including engagement between both parties”.

The statement added cryptically, “They noted with appreciation relevant proposals of mediation and good offices aimed at peaceful resolution of the conflict in accordance with international law and on the basis of the UN Charter in its entirety and totality”.

While India has kept up a veneer of neutrality by not voting for the condemnation of Russia’s invasion at the UN, Prime Minister Modi has criticised it.

He told Putin at a 2022 meeting in Samarkand in Uzbekistan, “I know that today’s era is not of war and we have talked to you many times over the phone on the subject that democracy and diplomacy and dialogue are all these things that touch the world”.

On the day of Prime Minister Modi’s arrival in Moscow in July, Russia’s missile attack hit a children’s hospital in Ukraine.

Reacting to it, Prime Minister Modi said, “Whether it is war, conflict or a terrorist attack, any person who believes in humanity is pained when there is loss of lives. But even in that, when innocent children are killed, the heart bleeds and that pain is very terrifying.”

Prime Minister Modi and President Zelensky have spoken by phone several times since Russia’s invasion began in February 2022.

After a conversation in March, the Prime Minister posted on X that he “conveyed India’s consistent support for all efforts for peace and bringing an early end to the ongoing conflict. India will continue to provide humanitarian assistance guided by our people-centric approach”.

Zelensky said in his X post that “Ukraine is interested in strengthening our trade and economic ties with India, particularly in agricultural exports, aviation cooperation, and pharmaceutical and industrial product trade”.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi emplanes for Poland’s Rzeszow from capital Warsaw on August 22, 2024. Photo: X/@MEAIndia via PTI

The symbolism and balancing act aside, Prime Minster Narendra Modi’s visit to Ukraine, the first by an Indian Prime Minister, will focus on cooperation in defence, with India operating a large inventory of military equipment of both Russian and Ukrainian origin.

In the three years since the war in Ukraine, India has seen supplies and spares held up for some time and has attempted to diversify and reduce dependence by turning to domestic companies as well as seeking alternate vendor base in other countries.

The situation has improved since and spares, components and supplies have started coming, though not to the pre-war levels, according to official sources. Both Russia and Ukraine have assured that they would ensure timely deliveries though it is not up to the earlier schedules yet, the sources said.

Sources said Ukraine has several cutting-edge systems and technologies many of which are battle-tested. It has expressed interest in forming joint ventures with Indian companies.

The war in Ukraine in February 2022 impacted all three services of the Indian military that have huge inventories both from Russia and Ukraine. Immediately after the war began, the Indian Army terminated several contracts related to air defence, armour and artillery as it faced escalation in prices from other countries since spares and supplies became scarce and were diverted, shooting up prices, officials said. Further, quality claim resolutions became very time consuming.

The Army turned to indigenous defence manufacturers for smaller components and sub-assemblies. This was also done by the Navy and Indian Air Force (IAF).

“The Army has reached out to domestic vendors, tried to minimise imports of spares, assemblies and so on to the extent possible and diversified the vendor base where domestic options were not available to about 7-8 countries notably Poland, Estonia, Bulgaria, Czech Republic among others,” a source said. The indigenous push was particularly in small components and ammunitions, officials said.

With Russia, there has been an added element of payments as Russia was shunted out of the global SWIFT system and the rupee-rouble trade couldn’t cater to large payments.

The impact of such tensions is not entirely new as in the past, tensions between Russia and Ukraine had considerably delayed the modernisation of the IAF’s AN-32 transport fleet. Ukraine upgraded over 100 AN-32 transport aircraft of the IAF under a deal finalised in 2009. While upgrade of 45 AN-32s in Ukraine was completed in 2015, remaining aircraft were to be upgraded by IAF Base Repair Depot, Kanpur which got considerably delayed.

For the Indian Navy, probably the impact is as acute, if not more, as over 30 frontline warships are powered by engines from Zorya Nashproekt of Ukraine. Indian Navy drew a roadmap to achieve a certain level of servicing locally in the next few years. In addition, Zorya is tying up with an Indian company to carry out certain level of engine maintenance reducing the need to ship engines to Ukraine, sources stated.

Defence trade between India and Ukraine continued till just before 2022. For instance, after the Balakot air strike in 2019, IAF made emergency procurement of R-27 air to air missiles for its SU-30MKI fighters. At Aero India in February 2021, Ukraine signed four agreements worth $70 million which includes sale of new weapons as well as maintenance and upgrades of existing ones in service with the Indian military, as reported by The Hindu earlier.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi emplanes for Poland’s Rzeszow from capital Warsaw on August 22, 2024. Photo: X/@MEAIndia via PTI

The symbolism and balancing act aside, Prime Minster Narendra Modi’s visit to Ukraine, the first by an Indian Prime Minister, will focus on cooperation in defence, with India operating a large inventory of military equipment of both Russian and Ukrainian origin.

In the three years since the war in Ukraine, India has seen supplies and spares held up for some time and has attempted to diversify and reduce dependence by turning to domestic companies as well as seeking alternate vendor base in other countries.

The situation has improved since and spares, components and supplies have started coming, though not to the pre-war levels, according to official sources. Both Russia and Ukraine have assured that they would ensure timely deliveries though it is not up to the earlier schedules yet, the sources said.

Sources said Ukraine has several cutting-edge systems and technologies many of which are battle-tested. It has expressed interest in forming joint ventures with Indian companies.

The war in Ukraine in February 2022 impacted all three services of the Indian military that have huge inventories both from Russia and Ukraine. Immediately after the war began, the Indian Army terminated several contracts related to air defence, armour and artillery as it faced escalation in prices from other countries since spares and supplies became scarce and were diverted, shooting up prices, officials said. Further, quality claim resolutions became very time consuming.

The Army turned to indigenous defence manufacturers for smaller components and sub-assemblies. This was also done by the Navy and Indian Air Force (IAF).

“The Army has reached out to domestic vendors, tried to minimise imports of spares, assemblies and so on to the extent possible and diversified the vendor base where domestic options were not available to about 7-8 countries notably Poland, Estonia, Bulgaria, Czech Republic among others,” a source said. The indigenous push was particularly in small components and ammunitions, officials said.

With Russia, there has been an added element of payments as Russia was shunted out of the global SWIFT system and the rupee-rouble trade couldn’t cater to large payments.

The impact of such tensions is not entirely new as in the past, tensions between Russia and Ukraine had considerably delayed the modernisation of the IAF’s AN-32 transport fleet. Ukraine upgraded over 100 AN-32 transport aircraft of the IAF under a deal finalised in 2009. While upgrade of 45 AN-32s in Ukraine was completed in 2015, remaining aircraft were to be upgraded by IAF Base Repair Depot, Kanpur which got considerably delayed.

For the Indian Navy, probably the impact is as acute, if not more, as over 30 frontline warships are powered by engines from Zorya Nashproekt of Ukraine. Indian Navy drew a roadmap to achieve a certain level of servicing locally in the next few years. In addition, Zorya is tying up with an Indian company to carry out certain level of engine maintenance reducing the need to ship engines to Ukraine, sources stated.

Defence trade between India and Ukraine continued till just before 2022. For instance, after the Balakot air strike in 2019, IAF made emergency procurement of R-27 air to air missiles for its SU-30MKI fighters. At Aero India in February 2021, Ukraine signed four agreements worth $70 million which includes sale of new weapons as well as maintenance and upgrades of existing ones in service with the Indian military, as reported by The Hindu earlier.