PM Modi meets Zelenskyy, signs agreements with Ukraine

India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid a visit to war-torn Ukraine on Friday, becoming the first Indian head of the government to land in the country since its independence in 1991.

Amid escalating global tensions and an ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine, Modi’s visit signalled India’s evolving role on the global arena, as various international media outlets reported.

The journey saw the signing of key agreements and the delivery of critical humanitarian aid, according to Indian media reports. PM Modi also highlighted India’s commitment to peace, balanced diplomacy, and global cooperation.

PM Modi and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy finalised various agreements during their meeting, which covered areas such as agriculture, food industry, medical product regulation, and cultural cooperation among others.

Amid war sirens, Modi arrived in Kyiv on a special train from Poland. He was greeted by Ukraine’s First Deputy Prime Minister.

During his meeting with President Zelenskyy, Modi underscored India’s firm stance on peace regarding the ongoing conflict. India had not been neutral from the start and had chosen to stand firmly for peace, he pointed out.

The Indian Prime Minister also paid tribute to the children who have lost their lives in the Russia-Ukraine war. He silently offered prayers and placed a doll at a memorial, alongside President Zelenskyy, who laid a teddy bear at the site.

One of the significant highlights of Modi’s visit to Ukraine was the presentation of BHISHM cubes—part of the Bharat Health Initiative for Sahyog Hita and Maitri (BHISHM)—which have been designed for providing trauma care. These cubes, developed under Project Aarogya Maitri, were officially handed over to Ukraine by India. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar confirmed that ten BHISHM cubes, which contain 22 tonnes of medical support equipment and ten generator sets, were handed over.

India’s recent energy purchases from Russia were also a point of discussion during the occasion. Jaishankar mentioned that Modi had explained to the Ukrainian side that the tight energy market, resulting from sanctions on several producers, necessitated reasonable and stable pricing for the benefit of the global economy.