The other day in Ukraine, Prime Minister Narendra Modi avowedly professed in support of peace for India because it is clear that the nation is not neutral in the fight between Ukraine and Russia. This marks PM Modi’s first visit to Ukraine ever since its independence in 1991.
During his meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv, PM Modi underscored India’s readiness to actively contribute to peace efforts in the region. “We are not neutral. From the very beginning, we have taken sides. And we have chosen the side of peace,” Modi stated, referencing India’s deep-rooted traditions of non-violence inspired by figures like Buddha and Mahatma Gandhi.
The discussions between the top brass featured ascending bilateral ties from a holistic collaboration to a political alliance, with both parties promising to enhance links in different areas: trade, economic relations as well as military-technical cooperation. Moreover, they also talked extensively about the energy commerce between India and Russia which has attracted global scrutiny because of what it could mean for the traditional crisis. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar pointed out that there was a need for consistent and moderate prices of crude oil across the world markets in an explanation of India’s stance to its Ukrainian counterpart.
Zelenski, in recognition of the global power of India, has expressed his wish that India could do more to help Ukraine. He emphasized on the importance of India’s role in the world, especially in stopping Russian military operations.
The prime minister of India, Narendra Modi, has invited the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, to visit India. Zelensky has been looking forward to fostering a strategic partnership and thus accepted the invitation. But he said that it will depend on what happens in Ukraine for him to come.
This visit which lasted for almost nine hours is one of those defining moments in India-Ukraine relations that opened dialogue as well as cooperation between two countries amid a complicated global scene.
