S Jaishankar Meets Zelensky In Kyiv; Discusses India-Ukraine Ties And Path To Peace

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv on Thursday, with discussions focusing on strengthening India-Ukraine bilateral ties and approaches to ending the ongoing conflict.

Jaishankar said he briefed Zelensky on his discussions with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha on deepening bilateral cooperation. The conversation centred on approaches to end the conflict.

Zelensky said the two sides discussed important issues, including the situation in the Black Sea, and expressed gratitude for India’s desire to end the war between Russia and Ukraine. He further said peace was needed and described this as India’s clear position.

Zelensky said Russia had launched jet-powered Shahed drones while Jaishankar was in Kyiv. He added that Ukrainian combat aviation ensured the safety of the Indian delegation.

Ukrainian President said Ukraine hoped other strong countries would take a clear position. He further called for an end to the war and the establishment of a reliable peace.

The Ukrainian president said the two sides discussed threats to civilian shipping in the Black Sea. He stressed the need to ensure that food supplies were not blocked to regions dependent on maritime routes and called for cooperation to ensure security.

The visit marks the first-ever standalone bilateral visit by an Indian External Affairs Minister to Ukraine.

Earlier, Sybiha told Jaishankar that Russian aggression had turned the Black Sea into a zone of hostilities. He recalled that Indian seafarers were among the victims and expressed condolences over their deaths.

The Ministers discussed peace efforts, Black Sea security, freedom of navigation, global food security and further development of India-Ukraine relations.

Ukraine sought India’s more active involvement in international efforts to end the war. The talks, however, covered trade, investment, business ties and Indian participation in Ukraine’s reconstruction.

Ukraine said trade turnover with India currently stands at USD 2.6 billion, with significant scope for further growth.

Potential areas of cooperation include energy, infrastructure, transport, agriculture, pharmaceuticals, digitalisation and mechanical engineering.

Zelensky earlier said that drone and missile strikes across Ukraine had killed 12 people, including an Indian national.

The development came hours after Prime Minister Narendra Modi appealed for an end to the ‘endless’ war on the sidelines of the SCO summit in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.

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