India is not neutral, but on the side of peace, says Ukrainian President Volodymyr Selensky after his meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi: 10 points

1. “Following the visit, we also agreed on a joint statement focusing on the development of a strategic partnership, bilateral trade and further military-technical cooperation,” said the Ukrainian president, whose country is at war with Russia.

2. In the joint statement by India and Ukraine, Prime Minister Modi’s office said both leaders reiterated their readiness to continue to cooperate in upholding the principles of international law, including the UN Charter, such as respect for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of states. “They agreed that a closer bilateral dialogue in this regard is desirable,” the joint statement said.

3. Prime Minister Modi arrived in Kyiv this morning by special train. This is the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Ukraine since the former Russian state gained independence in 1991.

4. In his talks with Mr Zelensky, which took place in the shadow of the conflict, Prime Minister Modi said India was always ready to play an “active role” in any efforts to restore peace in Ukraine and he would even be happy to personally contribute to ending the conflict.

5. “We (India) are not neutral. From the beginning, we have chosen sides. And we have chosen peace. We come from the land of Buddha, where there is no place for war,” said Prime Minister Modi in his opening speech during the talks. “We come from the land of Mahatma Gandhi, who gave a message of peace to the whole world,” he said.

6. Both sides agreed to request the India-Ukraine Intergovernmental Commission (IGC) to explore all possible ways to not only restore bilateral trade and economic relations to pre-conflict levels but also further expand and deepen them.

7. Due to the challenges related to the ongoing conflict, there has been a significant decline in annual bilateral trade in goods since 2022.

8. Prime Minister Modi also briefed Mr Zelensky on his talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Samarkand in September 2022 and in Moscow last month. “Some time ago, when I met President Putin in Samarkand, I told him that this is not the era of war. When I went to Russia last month, I said in clear terms that no solution to any problem can ever be found on the battlefield,” Prime Minister Modi said.

9. Prime Minister Modi’s visit to Kyiv is being seen in many quarters as a diplomatic balancing act as his trip to Russia has raised concerns in some Western countries. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said Prime Minister Modi reiterated the need for “practical engagement” by all stakeholders to develop an innovative solution that will gain widespread acceptance and contribute to peace and stability.

10. Both sides called for a comprehensive reform of the UN Security Council to reflect current global realities and make it more representative, effective and efficient in addressing issues of international peace and security. Ukraine reiterated its support for India’s permanent membership in a reformed and expanded UN Security Council.

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