Prime Minister Narendra Modi shares greetings with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on his arrival at the Mariinsky Palace in Kyiv on Friday (August 23, 2024). | Photo Credit: ANI
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday (August 23, 2024) said that India supports his country’s national sovereignty and territorial integrity, underlining that New Delhi’s support is “important” as everyone in the world should equally respect the UN Charter.
“History was made today. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Ukraine for the first time since our country’s independence, on the eve of our Independence Day,” Mr Zelenskyy posted on Twitter (formerly Twitter) after talks with the Ukrainian Prime Minister. Prime Minister Narendra Modi,
Mister. Modi reaches Kyiv This is the first visit of an Indian Prime Minister to Ukraine since Ukraine’s independence in 1991, on which he reached there this morning by a special train.
Mr. Zelenskyy informed that four documents were signed between Ukraine and India relating to the medical sector, agricultural cooperation, humanitarian relations and culture.
Also read: Highlights of PM Modi’s visit to Ukraine: India hands over Bhishma Cubes to Ukraine
Following the visit, “we also agreed on a joint statement, focusing on the development of strategic partnership, bilateral trade and continued military-technical cooperation.”
“India supports the national sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine. And this is important because everyone in the world should equally respect the UN Charter,” Mr Zelensky stressed.
In his talks with Mr Zelensky, which took place in the shadow of a fierce war, Mr Modi said India is always ready to play an “active role” in every effort to restore peace in Ukraine and that he would also like to personally contribute to ending the conflict.
“We [India] “We are not neutral. From the very beginning we have taken sides. And we have chosen the side of peace. We come from the land of Buddha, where there is no place for war,” Modi said in his opening remarks during the talks.
He said, “We come from the land of Mahatma Gandhi who gave the message of peace to the entire world.”
The Prime Minister also emphasised India’s strong commitment to respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the States.
Also read: Prime Minister Modi’s historic visit to Ukraine ends, four agreements signed
He said, “I want to assure you and the entire global community that India is committed to respecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity (of the states) and this is of utmost importance to us.”
Mr Modi also briefed Mr Zelensky on his talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Samarkand in September 2022, as well as in Moscow last month.
Mr Modi said, “Some time ago when I met President Putin in Samarkand, I told him that this is not the era of war. Last month when I visited Russia, I said in clear terms that the solution to any problem is never found on the battlefield.”
Mr Modi said, “Solutions lie in dialogue, dialogue and diplomacy and we must move in that direction without wasting time. Both sides must sit together and find ways out of this crisis.”
The Prime Minister’s visit to Kyiv is being seen as a diplomatic balancing act in many quarters after his visit to Russia had caused outrage in some Western countries.
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar said Mr. Modi reiterated the need for “pragmatic engagement” among all stakeholders to develop an innovative solution that would help build wider acceptance and contribute to peace and stability.
The Prime Minister told reporters that he conveyed to Mr Zelenskyy that India wishes to contribute in “all possible ways” to an early restoration of peace in Ukraine.