News Highlight
PM Modi talks to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy; conveys India’s readiness to contribute to any peace efforts.
Key Takeaway
- Both the leaders discussed the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, and the Indian Prime Minister reiterated his call for early cessation of hostilities and the need to pursue the path of dialogue and diplomacy.
- He emphasised the importance India attaches to the safety and security of nuclear installations, including in Ukraine.
India- Ukraine Relations
- Political Relations:
- India has an extensive bilateral relationship with Ukraine, spanning all spheres of cooperation.
- India was one of the first countries to recognise Ukraine. The government of India recognised the Republic of Ukraine as a sovereign country in 1991 and established diplomatic relations in 1992.
- Commerce and Trade Relations:
- Bilateral trade between the two countries has grown significantly in the last 25 years, and in 2018-19, was almost US$ 2.8 Billion.
- Main items of export from Ukraine to India are agricultural products, metallurgical products, plastics and polymers, etc.
- Cultural:
- International Day of Yoga is widely celebrated all over Ukraine by the Embassy and Yoga schools.
- Some Indian movies have also been shot in Ukraine, for example: ‘Winner’, ‘99 songs’ , experts from a Ukrainian studio were involved in creating visual effects for the movie ‘Bahubali 2.
- Embassy also conducts regular classes in yoga, dances, painting, rangoli, Ayurveda, etc. at the Embassy premises, and these classes are open to all and free of cost.
- Indian Community:
- A small but vibrant Indian community lives in Ukraine, mostly business professionals and students.
- About 18,000 Indian students are studying in Ukraine, mainly in medicine. Indian business professionals work predominantly in the fields of pharmaceuticals, IT, engineering, medicine, education, etc.
- Defence Relations:
- Ukraine has been a source of military technology and equipment for India since its independence.
- Ukraine manufactures the R-27 air-to-air missiles which are in use by the IAF on its SU-30MKI fighters.
Ukraine
- History:
- With the dissolution of the U.S.S.R. (the Soviet Union) in December 1991, Ukraine gained full independence.
- The country changed its official name to Ukraine, and it helped to found the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), an association of countries that were formerly republics of the Soviet Union.
- About
- Ukraine is a country located in eastern Europe.
- Capita-Kyiv (Kiev)
- Land border:
- Belarus-North
- Russia-East
- Moldova and Romania-Southwest
- Hungary, Slovakia, and Poland-West
- Maritime border:
- Sea of Azov-South
- Black Sea-South
Content Source: Newsonair