India-Ukraine: Prime Minister’s Visit

Context: The Prime Minister’s trip to Ukraine opens up three additional avenues: India in Europe, the diplomatic sphere, and the re-emergence of Delhi-Kyiv.

News –

On August 23, 2024, Indian Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi travelled to Ukraine with the President of Ukraine, H.E. Volodymyr Zelenskyy. This was the first time an Indian prime minister had ever visited Ukraine since the two nations’ diplomatic ties were established in 1992.

The visit was centred on defence cooperation because India has a sizable stock of military hardware of Ukrainian origins.

Background: India-Ukraine Relations

• With a population of over 37 million and an area of around 6 lakh square kilometres, Ukraine is the largest country in Europe.
• December 1991 witnessed India recognize Ukraine’s independence, and in January it opened diplomatic ties and in May of that year established an embassy in Kiev.
• 1994 marked the signing of the agreement to form the Indian-Ukrainian Intergovernmental Commission (IGC) on Trade, Economic, Scientific, Technological, Industrial, and Cultural Cooperation. The IGC has convened six times thus far, with the sixth conference taking place in Kyiv in February 2018.
• The most recent exchanges were by phone on October 4, 2022, between Prime Minister Mr Narendra Modi and President of Ukraine Mr Volodymyr Zelensky; on September 21, 2022, EAM Dr S. Jaishankar met Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal on the sidelines of the UNGA; and on November 12, 2022, in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, on the sidelines of the ASEAN summit.
• Through its Joint Working Groups, the IGC is instrumental in directing bilateral cooperation between the two nations in a multitude of domains, including trade and economic cooperation, healthcare and pharmaceuticals, the Committee on Scientific and Technical Cooperation, tourism, chemicals and fertilizers, agriculture, consular dialogue, mining and metallurgy, transport/civil aviation, the power sector, nuclear energy, and atomic energy.
• Foreign Office Consultations (FOCs) between the two countries have been held in 1994, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2010 and 2023. The ninth round of FOCs was held in Kyiv on 11 July 2023.

Defence Cooperation:

• Since gaining independence, India has sourced military technology and equipment from Ukraine, including spare parts and equipment.
• On December 12, 2012, the two nations signed a Defence Cooperation Agreement.
• The India-Ukraine Joint Working Group on Defense met for the first time in June 2018 in Kyiv.
• Businesses in India and Ukraine are looking into ways to work together more closely in this field. Ukrainian businesses take part in a number of defense expos and exhibitions in India.

Commerce and Trade Relations:

• Over the past 25 years, there has been a tremendous increase in bilateral trade between the two nations, reaching US $ 3.386 billion in 2021–2022.
• India imports most of its food, machinery, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, and other items from Ukraine, whereas Ukraine imports most of its agricultural, metallurgical, plastic, and polymer products.
• The Ukraine is home to several Indian corporations’ representative offices. An “Indian Pharmaceutical Manufacturers’ Association” has also been established in Ukraine by representatives of significant pharmaceutical corporations.

Humanitarian Assistance:

• India made the decision to provide humanitarian aid to Ukraine and its surrounding nations in light of the humanitarian situation brought on by the ongoing conflict in that country. Since February 24, the Indian government has sent 99.3 tons of humanitarian aid—including blankets, tents, tarps, medical supplies, medications, and other necessities—to Ukraine and its bordering nations in 12 consignments.
• Additionally, Government Of India is contributing funds to the renovation, refurbishing, and reconstruction of Kyiv Gymnasium of Oriental Language No. 1. Additionally, Indian pharmaceutical companies have given Ukraine financial and medical support totaling more than $8 million USD.
• The people of Ukraine have received food and other humanitarian aid from numerous other Indians who are long-term residents of the country as well as from Indian organizations.

Cultural Relations:

• The general people in Ukraine are very interested in Indian culture, which includes dances, yoga, philosophy, Ayurveda, and spirituality.
• Over thirty Ukrainian cultural associations and groups are active in promoting Indian art forms, including Indian dances, throughout the nation.
• In 2017, the Indian Embassy in Kiev hosted a “Festival of India,” a countrywide event that featured performances by numerous Indian musicians, dance troupes, and artists, showcasing the depth and variety of Indian culture.
• The Embassy and yoga schools alike commemorate International Day of Yoga widely throughout Ukraine. With 4052 participants, the 2017 “Yoga Marathon” organized by the Embassy at Khreshchatyk Street in the heart of Kyiv set a record for the most people in Ukraine to practice yoga simultaneously.
• Over 10,000 people actively participated in the International Day of Yoga celebrations in 22 Ukrainian cities in the 2018 and 2019 events, which were organized by the Embassy.
• In 2019, nearly 300 artists from all around Ukraine participated in the 19th edition of the All Ukrainian Indian Dance Festival, which was named Rhythms of Joy. The artists performed various Indian dance traditions.
• In order to mark Mahatma Gandhi’s 150th birthday, the Embassy arranged a wide range of events and programs in 2018–19 that attracted a lot of attention.
• The Embassy most recently observed the 153rd anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi’s birth at his statue at the Oasis of Peace in the A.V. Fomin Botanical Garden in Kyiv on October 2, 2022, and the 8th International Day of Yoga on June 21, 2022, at the Chancery premises.
• R. Rehman’s YM studios produced the Indian film “99 songs,” which was shot in Lviv and Kyiv in November and December of 2016. The team finished filming the film in 2017, and it was released in 2019; additionally, specialists from a Ukrainian studio worked on the visual effects for the film “Bahubali 2: The Conclusion.”

ITEC Assistance/Other Training Programmes:

• The Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation, or ITEC, program provides training or capacity building initiatives at several Indian centers of excellence.
• Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) scholarships provide advanced study opportunities in a variety of topics at prestigious Indian universities.
• The Kendriya Hindi Sansthan Scholarship program provides financial aid to international students wishing to enroll in advanced Hindi language courses.

Indian Community:

• The majority of the small but active Indian population in Ukraine is made up of students and business people. The industries that use Indian business experts the most are manufacturing, packaging, trading, and services.
• An organization called “India Club” was established by the Indian community in the area, and it plans sporting and cultural events.

Key Highlights of  India’s PM Visit to Ukraine:

Prime Minister presents BHISHM Cubes to Ukraine:

• The Government of Ukraine received four BHISHM (Bharat Health Initiative for Sahyog Hita & Maitri) Cubes from Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi. The Cubes will aid in the quick healing of the wounded and help preserve many lives.
• The first aid supplies and medical equipment needed for a variety of wounds and medical emergencies are included in every BHISHM Cube. Additionally, it has surgical supplies for a modest operation room that can do ten to fifteen simple surgeries every day.
• About 200 instances of various kinds in emergency scenarios, including trauma, hemorrhage, burns, fractures, etc., can be handled by the Cube. In small quantities, it can also produce some electricity and oxygen on its own. A group of specialists from India has been sent to give the Ukrainian side preliminary instruction on how to use the Cube.

Prime Minister pays homage at Gandhi statue in Kyiv:

• At his statue in Kyiv, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi paid reverence to Mahatma Gandhi.
• The prime minister emphasized how Mahatma Gandhi’s message of peace is still relevant today in creating a peaceful society. He said that the route he had chosen provided answers to the problems facing the world today.
• The statue of Mahatma Gandhi is a symbol of hope and peace for all people and is situated in the “Oasis of Peace” park in Kyiv.

 Prime Minister’s meeting with the President of Ukraine:

Political Relation:

• In the future, the two leaders indicated a shared desire to work toward transforming their bilateral relationship from a comprehensive partnership to a strategic partnership.
• The leaders reviewed the steady and positive trajectory of bilateral ties that have grown significantly over the past three decades, and they recognized the importance of regular engagements at different levels between India and Ukraine. These included meetings held in Apulia in June 2024 and Hiroshima in May 2023 on the fringes of the G7 Summits, the March 2024 visit of the Ukrainian Minister of Foreign Affairs to New Delhi, and numerous interactions and phone calls between the Ministers of External Affairs of India and Ukraine.

Economic, Scientific and Technical Cooperation:

• In addition to exploring a stronger partnership in domains like digital public infrastructure, industry, manufacturing, green energy, etc., the Leaders discussed enhancing cooperation in areas like trade and commerce, agriculture, pharmaceuticals, defense, education, science & technology, and culture. This included increased involvement from business and industry in both countries.
• In order to promote a more forward-thinking and robust economic relationship between the two nations, the Leaders underlined the significance of the Indian-Ukrainian Intergovernmental Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific, Technical, Industrial, and Cultural Cooperation (IGC).
• They valued the review of the IGC carried out during the March 2024 visit of the Ukrainian Minister of Foreign Affairs to India and the initiatives taken to arrange Joint Working Group meetings in order to arrange an early convening of the 7th Session of the IGC at a time that works for both parties. The choice of Dr. S. Jaishankar, the Indian Minister of External Affairs, as the Co-Chair/Chairperson of the IGC was welcomed by the Ukrainian side.
• Taking note of the accomplishments of bilateral research projects, the successful execution of the scientific and technological cooperation agreement between India and Ukraine, and the efficient operation of the Joint Working Group on Scientific and Technical Cooperation, the parties encouraged regular exchanges and programs, particularly in fields like ICT, AI, machine learning, cloud services, biotechnology, new materials, green energy, and earth sciences. The 8th JWG on Scientific and Technological Cooperation Meeting, which took place on June 20, 2024, was warmly received by the parties.

MoU on Cooperation in the field of Medical Products Regulation:

Memorandum of Understanding on Medicines and Drugs Control between the State Service of Ukraine and the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare of the Republic of India; additionally, the third meeting of the Indian-Ukrainian Joint Working Group on Pharmaceutical Cooperation will be held virtually in August 2024. India was also valued by the Ukrainian side as a reliable supplier of affordable, high-quality medications.

Cultural and People-to-People Ties:

• The conclusion of the bilateral Programme of Cultural Cooperation and the decision to host cultural festivals in India and Ukraine were hailed by both countries, which acknowledged the vital role that people-to-people and cultural relations have played in their long-lasting friendship. The Leaders underscored the significance of maintaining and augmenting interpersonal and cultural exchanges, particularly via the General Cultural Scholarship Scheme of the Indian Council for Cultural Relations and the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation program’s scholarship offerings.
• The parties decided to investigate the potential for Indian businesses to assist in the appropriate restoration and recovery of Ukraine.
• The Leaders’ denunciation of terrorism was emphatic. They emphasized the significance of boosting collaboration in this area on the basis of international law and the UN Charter and called for an uncompromising battle against terrorism and extremism in all of its forms and manifestations.
• In order to better reflect modern global circumstances and improve the UN Security Council’s representation, efficacy, and efficiency in addressing matters of international peace and security, both sides demanded extensive reform. Ukraine reaffirmed its support for India’s permanent membership in the UN Security Council, which has been enlarged and restructured.
• The International Solar Alliance (ISA) membership of Ukraine was anticipated by the Indian side.

Defence Cooperation:

• The leaders agreed to keep working to foster a stronger relationship between the defense entities in both countries, including through cooperative partnerships and collaborations for manufacturing in India and cooperation in emerging areas, underscoring the significance of defense cooperation between India and Ukraine.
• The parties decided that the Joint Working Group on Military-Technical Cooperation between India and Ukraine, which was founded by the 2012 Defense Cooperation Agreement, will meet for the second time soon in India.

 Conclusion and Way Forward:

• A Balanced Approach to the Russia-Ukraine Conflict: India needs to keep treading carefully when deciding how to position itself in relation to this conflict.
• India should voice concern for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity while also upholding its strategic alliance with Russia.
• The Indian government ought to persist in highlighting its stance of strategic autonomy and non-alignment.
• It can stay out of geopolitical disputes that don’t directly benefit its interests as a nation by doing this.
• Humanitarian Aid and Support: By providing humanitarian aid and support, India can improve its relations with Ukraine. This could involve providing technical know-how for rebuilding war-torn areas as well as medical help and reconstruction assistance.
• Mediation and Peace Initiatives: Given its friendly ties with both Russia and Ukraine, India can volunteer to arbitrate disputes between the two countries if the chance presents itself.
• This could assist in resolving the problem peacefully and establish India as a responsible global player.
• Using Global South Solidarity: India should collaborate with other nations in the Global South to form a coalition that advances development and peace in conflict areas such as Ukraine.

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