Historic India-Ukraine agreements: PM Modi, Zelenskyy sign pacts on agriculture, medicine, food and culture

India and Ukraine on August 23 inked four agreements following talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The agreements would provide for cooperation in areas of agriculture, food industry, medicine, culture and humanitarian assistance, officials said. Earlier, Modi began the historic visit to the Ukrainian capital Kyiv under the shadow of war to hold talks with President Zelenskyy.

KYIV: It is the first-ever visit to Ukraine by an Indian prime minister after Ukraine became independent in 1991, and his trip comes amid Kyiv’s fresh military offensive in Russia’s western Kursk region.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said that India had not been “neutral or an indifferent bystander” during the Russia-Ukraine war and was always on the side of peace. During an interaction with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv, Modi reiterated India’s position that the conflict can be resolved only through dialogue and diplomacy. He added that New Delhi is ready to make proactive contributions towards efforts for peace, Reuters quoted the prime minister as saying. Later, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar revealed details on the bilateral meeting between Modi and the Ukrainian president. “Much of discussions between PM Modi and President Zelenskyy was with regard to the war in Ukraine,” Jaishankar said.