Kyiv: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has expressed Ukraine's strong interest in deepening economic and strategic ties with India. During a press conference on Friday following his meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Kyiv, President Zelenskyy affirmed Ukraine’s readiness to directly engage with India by purchasing ‘Made-in-India’ products and opening Ukrainian companies in India. He also welcomed the prospect of Indian companies establishing operations in Ukraine.
Zelenskyy, when asked about Ukraine’s willingness to engage with India, confirmed, "Yeah, we are ready (to directly engage with India and buy products made in India in the near future). I gave these all messages to your productions. As I said, we are ready to exchange…We are ready to buy. We are ready to produce. We are ready to open your companies here or we are ready to open our companies in India. So we are very ready for such dialogue and for such work," Zelenskyy was quoted as saying by a news agency.
Earlier on Friday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended a warm and cordial greeting to President Zelenskyy upon his arrival in Kyiv. The meeting, described as historic by PM Modi, was a significant step toward strengthening Indian-Ukrainian relations. In a post shared on X (formerly Twitter), PM Modi stated, "My visit to Ukraine was historic. I came to this great country with the aim of deepening Indian-Ukrainian friendship. I had productive negotiations with President @ZelenskyyUa. India firmly believes that peace should always prevail. I thank the Government and people of Ukraine for their hospitality."
In a related development, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar announced that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has extended a formal invitation to President Zelenskyy to visit India. Zelenskyy expressed his eagerness to accept the invitation, highlighting the importance of maintaining momentum in their strategic partnership. "Yes, (I have plans to visit India) because when you begin a partnership, strategic partnership, and you begin some dialogue, I think that you don’t need to lose time and do big pauses and that’s why, I think it will be good to meet together again. And if our meeting will be in India, I’ll be happy to. I read a lot about your big and great country. It’s very interesting," Zelenskyy noted.
While the ongoing conflict in Ukraine limits Zelenskyy's ability to fully explore India during his visit, he emphasized the importance of understanding the people and culture of India. "I will not have time to see your country. It’s a pity because, during the war, I didn’t have time to look and to see. But I think it’s important any way to see your people. I think to understand the country is to understand people also," he added.
President Zelenskyy also underscored Ukraine’s need for India’s diplomatic influence on the global stage. He stated, "I need very much to find a key to your country because I very much need your country on our side… It’s not about your historical choice. But who knows? Maybe your country can be the key to this diplomatic influence. That’s why I’ll be happy to come to India as soon as your government and prime minister are ready to see me."
During the press conference, Zelenskyy responded to various topics, including recent global diplomatic developments and India’s position on international matters. Commenting on PM Modi’s hug with Russian President Vladimir Putin, China’s territorial aggression, and the situation in Kursk, Zelenskyy expressed his appreciation for PM Modi’s visit to Ukraine, emphasizing the significance of such gestures in international diplomacy. "Happy that the PM came to visit, this is very important. We are ready to on our part to do respective steps, we have heard messages from the Indian side. Hugs and handshakes are decisions made by every leader/ Putin should feel this war, we should him in Kursk," Zelenskyy remarked.
The meeting between President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Prime Minister Narendra Modi marks a pivotal moment in Ukraine-India relations. With both nations expressing a strong willingness to enhance economic, diplomatic, and strategic ties, the future looks promising for bilateral cooperation. Zelenskyy’s readiness to engage with India by purchasing ‘Made-in-India’ products and opening Ukrainian companies in India, coupled with Modi’s invitation for Zelenskyy to visit India, sets the stage for a new chapter in the relationship between these two significant nations.