The Republic of India has always been on the side of international law and the UN Charter. India’s position on support for the independence, territorial integrity, and sovereignty of Ukraine is absolutely clear. The government believes that no war ends on the battlefield and will support diplomatic efforts to bring the war in Ukraine to a speedy end. India stands ready to cooperate with other friendly nations to provide maximum support to peacekeeping efforts to restore peace in Ukraine.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid an official visit to Ukraine. This is the first visit of the Prime Minister of India to independent Ukraine and took place on the National Flag Day of Ukraine, on the eve of Independence Day. Narendra Modi met with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and together they paid tribute to the children who died because of russian aggression. The two leaders laid toys at the multimedia martyrology site “Children” in Kyiv and observed a minute of silence in memory of the fallen young Ukrainians.

During a meeting with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that his country supports our sovereignty and territorial integrity and is ready to make an active contribution to peace in Ukraine.

India is seeking to deepen economic ties with Ukraine. During his talks with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy discussed issues of bilateral and multilateral cooperation and the parties signed four documents in various areas, including:

• Memorandum of understanding on Indian humanitarian grant assistance for community development projects. The document provides for the creation of conditions for the next five years for the provision of grant and humanitarian assistance for the implementation of community development projects, in particular, projects for the reconstruction and restoration of Ukraine..
• Agreement on cooperation in agriculture and food industry. The purpose of the document is to expand mutually beneficial cooperation and strengthen national food security. It provides for the exchange of experience in livestock, crop production, and aquaculture. It is also planned to conduct joint research in genetics, breeding, biotechnology, plant protection, soil conservation, mechanization and water resources.
• The Program of cultural cooperation between the Ministry of Culture and Information Policy of Ukraine and the Ministry of Culture of the Government of the Republic of India for 2024-2028.
• Memorandum on promoting the development of interests in the pharmaceutical sector, preventing the circulation of low-quality and counterfeit medicines, ensuring the safety and quality of medicines supplied to the markets of both countries.

Since the beginning of the full-scale russian invasion, India has donated more than 273 tons of humanitarian aid to Ukrainian healthcare institutions from the government and private pharmaceutical companies. The aid handed over by the Embassy of India includes patient monitors, antibiotics, saline, consumables, and more. New batches of medicines are expected to arrive.

Indian pharmaceutical companies, united in Ukraine by the Indian Pharmaceutical Manufacturer’s Association (IPMA), have already provided medical and financial assistance to Ukrainians in the amount of $6 million. Other Indian companies and Indian citizens living in Ukraine are also actively involved in providing food and assistance to the population of Ukraine.

The founder of the Kusum Ukraine group of pharmaceutical companies, one of the most influential Indian citizens in Ukraine, businessman Rajiv Gupta handed over humanitarian aid to Ukraine for about $4 million, including medicines, vehicles, military equipment, charging stations, heating stoves, and much more.

The development of mutually beneficial trade and economic cooperation also remains an important priority for both countries. According to the results of 2023, the volume of goods exports from Dnipropetrovsk region amounted to $23.34 million (4.3% of the Ukrainian figure). Indian companies mostly buy railway locomotive parts, fats and vegetable oils, ferrous metal products, machinery and equipment, etc.

14 companies in Dnipropetrovsk region exported their products to the Indian market, including metallurgical, chemical, machine-building and processing companies.

Imports of goods from India to Dnipropetrovsk region increased by 32.6% compared to 2022 and amounted to $128.71 million (6.8% of the Ukrainian figure).

281 importers of the region bought oil and oil products, ferrous metals, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, seeds and    fruits of oilseeds, etc.

Import operations were mainly carried out by enterprises of the mining and metallurgical, food, and chemical industries and trade companies.   

Source: information for the article was taken from open online sources