PM Modi's Historic Visit to Ukraine: Strengthening India-Ukraine Relations Amid Global Geopolitical Shifts

What’s in today’s article?

• Why in News?
• Why is PM Modi going to Ukraine?
• PM Modi's Visit to Kyiv: A Shift in India's Traditional Foreign Policy on Ukraine?
• Impact of this visit on India’s relations with Russia

Why in News?

PM Modi met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv, marking a significant diplomatic milestone amidst the Russia-Ukraine war.

It was the first-ever visit to Ukraine by an Indian prime minister after Ukraine became independent in 1991.

India – Ukraine Bilateral Relation

• Political Relation
  • India recognized Ukraine as a sovereign country in December 1991 and established diplomatic relations in January 1992. 
  • The Embassy of India in Kyiv was opened in May 1992.
  • India and Ukraine enjoy warm and friendly relations and cooperate in areas like Education, Mutual Legal Assistance and Outer Space cooperation.
• Economic relation
  • In the first half of 2024 the volume of bilateral trade amounted to 1.07 billion USD. Export of goods from Ukraine – 0.41 billion USD, import of goods from India – 0.66 billion USD. 
    • The negative trade balance for Ukraine amounted to 0.25 billion USD.
    • The top commodities exported from Ukraine to India were fats and oils of vegetable origin, maize, hard coal, anthracite. 
    • Main Indian commodities imported to Ukraine were pharmaceutical products, mineral fuels, petroleum and distillation products, flat-rolled steel, electrical machinery.
• Defence Relation
  • Ukraine has been a source of military technology and equipment for India since its independence. 
  • Ukraine manufactures the R-27 air-to-air missiles which are in use by the IAF on its SU-30MKI fighters.
• Cultural Relation
  • There is a great interest in Indian culture in Ukraine at the public level, covering various aspects such as dances, yoga, philosophy, Ayurveda and spirituality.
  • There were about 18,000 Indian students studying in Ukraine, mainly in the field of medicine. 

Key highlights of the visit

• Reiterated India’s support for peace
  • PM Modi reiterated India’s support for peace, mentioning that India is not neutral but is in favour of peace.
  • He highlighted India's tradition of non-violence from Buddha and Gandhi.
• Expressed sorrow over the loss of innocent children in the conflict
  • Modi visited the Martyrologist Exposition at the National Museum of History of Ukraine and expressed sorrow over the loss of innocent children in the conflict.
• India presented four BHISHM Cubes to Ukraine
  • PM Modi presented four BHISHM Cubes to Ukraine, which include medical equipment and supplies for emergency treatment and surgery.
  • BHISM stands for Bharat Health Initiative for Sahyog Hita & Maitri. It is a mobile hospital aimed at providing emergency medical care to Ukraine.
  • Bhishm was initiated under the umbrella of Project Aarogya Maitri, a programme to provide crucial medical supplies to developing nations for humanitarian aid. 
  • The purpose of the initiative is to deliver all basic facilities and equipment for providing emergency medical care in an easy to use and rapidly deployable manner.
  • This mobile hospital consists of all essential medicines and equipment in cubical boxes that are each of 15 inches, in a well-organised manner. 
    • They are arranged in accordance with the type of medical assistance and injuries that could happen in a war or natural disaster.
  • These mini cubes are said to be then positioned on a strong, adjustable, which allows multi-mode transportation -by air, sea, land and drone. 
  • In addition to this, the cubes can be carried by an individual too as their maximum weight is 20 kg.
  • As per the officials, one cube can manage about 200 emergency situations of diverse nature including trauma, bleeding, burns, fractures, shock, along with managing initial triage and classification. 
  • They also said that the cubes also provide the ability to support basic surgeries and can generate power and oxygen in limited amounts and duration.
• Four landmark agreements were reached
  • India and Ukraine signed four agreements to provide for cooperation in agriculture, medicine, culture & humanitarian assistance.

Significance of this visit

• PM Modi's visit to Kyiv marks a significant diplomatic shift for India, as it re-engages with Ukraine and asserts itself in the global geopolitical landscape amid the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war. 
• This visit highlights three key developments:
• India's Role in European Peace Efforts
  • Modi's engagement with Ukrainian President demonstrates India's commitment to understanding Ukraine's concerns and contributing to global peace efforts. 
  • This positions India as a more active participant in resolving the conflict, especially in the Global South.
• Diplomatic and Strategic Space
  • Modi's visit signals India's intention to play a more proactive role in shaping global power dynamics, particularly in Europe. 
  • This is contrasted with China's growing influence in the region and the U.S.'s evolving stance on its involvement in European security.
    • Ukraine is not only about renewed contest between Russia and the West but also about the role of Delhi and Beijing in Europe.
• Reviving India-Ukraine Relations
  • Modi's visit also seeks to restore and enhance India's ties with Ukraine, which had been neglected post-Soviet Union. 
  • The commitment to a strategic partnership, along with economic, defense, and cultural cooperation, represents a significant renewal of the relationship between the two nations.

 Q.1. What is the significance of PM Modi's visit to Ukraine? 

PM Modi's visit to Ukraine is significant as it marks India's deeper engagement in European peace efforts, reshapes global power dynamics, and revitalizes India-Ukraine relations that had been neglected since the post-Soviet era.

Q.2. How did PM Modi's visit influence India-Ukraine relations? 

PM Modi's visit re-established India's ties with Ukraine, focusing on strategic partnership, economic cooperation, and cultural exchange, signaling a renewed commitment to fostering strong bilateral relations.

Source: Why Modi’s visit to Ukraine marks three new roads: India in Europe, diplomatic space, and Delhi-Kyiv revival | MEA | Indian Express | Times of India | ETV Bharat