NEW DELHI: PM Narendra Modi’s visit to Ukraine, the first ever by an Indian PM to the country, saw the two sides expressing commitment to working towards elevating bilateral relations to a strategic partnership, with Modi saying growth in ties in the middle of the conflict was a sign of maturity in the relationship. Among other things, Modi and President Volodymyr Zelensky also agreed to boost defence cooperation, including manufacturing in India.
Zelensky said history had been made with the visit, adding in a post on X after the bilateral meeting that India backed Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.“And this is critical because everyone in the world must equally respect the UN Charter,” said Zelensky.
India and Ukraine signed four agreements including one for cooperation in agriculture and food industry and another for Indian humanitarian assistance for implementation of high impact community development projects in Ukraine. Two other agreements were signed for cooperation in medicines and drugs control and also culture.
Apart from focusing on political and economic cooperation, Modi and Zelensky also agreed to work towards stronger defence cooperation, including through joint collaborations and partnerships for manufacturing in India and cooperation in emerging areas. “The sides agreed to hold the second meeting of Indian-Ukrainian Joint Working Group on military-technical cooperation, established under the 2012 Defence Cooperation Agreement, in the near future in India,” said the joint statement.
In what was their fourth meeting in past few years, Modi and Zelensky, while seeking just, comprehensive and lasting peace, also reaffirmed their commitment to further developing bilateral ties for the benefit of the peoples of both countries based on mutual trust, respect, & openness.
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