Rama Krishna Sangem
PM Modi wants to be friends with both Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. This is evident from Modi’s just concluded 9 hour long Ukraine visit. Only recently, Modi met Putin in Moscow. But, that hasn’t stopped Modi from doing a hectic signing of deals with Zelenskyy.
PM Modi and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy finalised multiple agreements during their meeting, which covered areas such as agriculture, food industry, medical product regulation, and cultural cooperation. 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 emphasised India’s firm stance on peace regarding the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia. He stated that India had not been neutral from the start and had chosen to stand firmly for peace.
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.
India gives emergency aid
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 to provide 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 energy purchase from Russia explaned
India’s recent energy purchases from Russia were also a point of discussion. 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.
Modi also highlighted Mahatma Gandhi’s message of peace during his visit, paying homage to a statue of Gandhi in Kyiv’s ‘Oasis of Peace’ park. On social media, Modi reflected on the universal relevance of Gandhi’s ideals, expressing hope that people continue to follow his path.
Global media extensively covered Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Ukraine, reflecting on its broader implications. Reuters observed that Modi’s visit to Kyiv resembled his recent trip to Moscow, where he advocated for peace and displayed a cordial relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
This approach reportedly caused some discontent in Ukraine, especially after a Russian missile hit a children’s hospital there on the same day as Modi’s meeting with Putin. Modi repeatedly denied India is neutral in this ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine. Modi told Zelenskyy that India is fully committed to peace and negotiated settlement to end the war. Whether this satisfied Zelenskyy
