Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to visit Ukraine this Friday at the invitation of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The visit, announced by Tanmaya Lal, a senior official at the Ministry of External Affairs during a briefing in New Delhi, signals India’s evolving strategy of “multi-alignment” in geopolitics, expanding on its traditional non-alignment policy.
During the visit, both leaders are expected to discuss defense collaboration, economic and business relations, and advancements in science and technology. The Ukrainian Presidential Office confirmed the visit, noting that this will be the first meeting between Modi and Zelenskyy, with the signing of multiple cooperation agreements on the agenda. The visit also comes in the wake of Zelenskyy’s criticism of Modi’s recent visit to Moscow, where Modi met with President Putin amid ongoing Russian missile strikes in Ukraine.
Rajiv Bhatia, a diplomat and former ambassador, highlighted that the visit aims to strengthen bilateral cooperation and advocate for peace in a region devastated by war. Bhatia emphasized that India supports the UN charter and international laws, yet refrains from publicly condemning any single country, favoring dialogue and diplomacy to resolve conflicts.
Modi’s visit will mark the first by an Indian head of state to Ukraine since the establishment of diplomatic relations over 30 years ago, following Ukraine’s independence in 1991. The visit is expected to deepen ties in trade, economic cooperation, education, and defense, with a focus on post-war reconstruction efforts.
In the fiscal year 2021-22, India’s goods trade with Ukraine reached approximately $3.4 billion, with Ukraine ranking among India’s top 50 trade partners. Modi’s government has also been working to enhance relations with Europe, reviving trade negotiations with the European Union (EU) and concluding a trade and investment agreement with the EFTA group.
The EU is India’s largest trading partner, with €124 billion in goods trade in 2023, representing 12.2% of India’s total trade. Strengthening ties with Ukraine is seen as a strategic move to improve relations with Europe as a whole.
While the war between Russia and Ukraine continues, with both sides far apart on cease-fire terms, Modi’s visit underscores India’s commitment to playing a balanced role in global geopolitics, advocating for peace and strengthening ties with key international partners.
