KYIV: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday departed after a whirlwind visit to the Ukrainian capital here as he held productive talks with President Volodymr Zelenskyy with an assurance of contributing personally to ending its raging war with Russia.
"My visit to Ukraine was historic. I came to this great nation with the aim of deepening India-Ukraine friendship. I had productive talks with President @ZelenskyyUa. India firmly believes that peace must always prevail. I thank the Government and people of Ukraine for their hospitality," Modi posted on X after a busy day full of meetings and other events.
Modi's maiden trip to Kyiv amid Ukraine's fresh military offensive into Russian territory was the first-ever visit to Ukraine by an Indian prime minister since Ukraine became independent in 1991.
During his bilateral meeting, Prime Minister Modi told President Zelenskyy that both Ukraine and Russia should sit together without wasting time to find ways to end the ongoing war and that India was on the side of peace since the beginning of the conflict.
In his talks with Zelenskyy in Kyiv that took place under the shadow of the raging war, Modi said India is ever ready to play an active role in every effort to restore peace in Ukraine and he would even like to contribute personally in ending the conflict.
During separate events, Modi presented four BHISHM (Bharat Health Initiative for Sahyog Hita and Maitri) Cubes to the Ukrainian government; visited the multimedia Martyrologist Exposition on children at the National Museum of History of Ukraine here to pay his respects, and paid tributes to Mahatma Gandhi at his statue in the Oasis of Peace' park.
Modi also interacted with Ukrainian students who are learning the Hindi language at the School of Oriental Studies in Kyiv.
He appreciated the scholarship of the students and their contribution to promoting mutual understanding between the people of the two countries.
Modi also commended their efforts to bring Indian culture and history closer to the Ukrainian people.
Earlier, when Modi arrived here from Poland onboard a 'Rail Force One' under tight security, in the second and final leg of his two-nation trip, the Indian community in Ukraine accorded him a warm welcome.
The prime minister's wide-ranging talks with Zelenskyy primarily focused on ways to end the war and boost bilateral cooperation in areas of trade, defence, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, agriculture and education.
"We (India) are not neutral. From the very beginning, we have taken sides. And we have chosen the side of peace. We have come from the land of Buddha where there is no place for war," Modi said in his opening remarks during the talks.
"We have come from the land of Mahatma Gandhi who had given a message of peace to the entire world," he said.
The prime minister also asserted India's strong commitment towards respecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of states.
"I want to assure you and the entire global community that India is committed to respecting sovereignty and territorial integrity (of states) and it is of utmost importance to us," he said.
Modi also apprised Zelenskyy of his conversations with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Samarkand in September 2022 as well as in Moscow last month.
"Some time back, when I met President Putin in Samarkand, I had told him that this was not the era of war. Last month when I went to Russia, I said in clear words that a solution to any problem is never found on the battlefield," Modi said.
"The solution comes through talks, dialogue and diplomacy and we should move ahead in that direction without wasting time. Both sides should sit together and find ways to come out of this crisis," Modi said.
The prime minister conveyed to Zelenskyy that he had come to Kyiv with a message of peace, including from the Global South.
Modi arrived in Kyiv this morning on a special train on the first-ever visit to Ukraine by an Indian prime minister after it became independent in 1991.
The prime minister's visit to Kyiv is seen in many quarters as a diplomatic balancing act as his trip to Russia triggered anguish among the Western countries.
PM Modi presents BHISHM Cubes to Ukraine during first visit to Kyiv
PM Modi presented four BHISHM (Bharat Health Initiative for Sahyog Hita and Maitri) Cubes to the Ukrainian government during his visit to the war-torn country where he met President Volodymyr Zelenskyy under the shadow of the raging war with Russia.
The prime minister arrived in Kyiv on a special train from Poland in the morning and was received by Ukraine's first deputy prime minister.
Modi presented four BHISHM Cubes to the Government of Ukraine, a statement from the Ministry of External Affairs said, adding that Zelenskyy thanked the Prime Minister for the humanitarian assistance of the Cubes which will help expedite the treatment of the injured and save precious lives.
The statement said each BHISHM Cube consists of medicines and equipment for the first line of care for all kinds of injuries and medical situations.
"It also includes surgical equipment for a basic operation room that can manage 10-15 basic surgeries per day.
The Cube can handle about 200 cases of diverse nature in emergencies such as trauma, bleeding, burns, fractures, etc.
It can also generate power and oxygen in limited amounts.
A team of experts from India has been deployed to provide initial training to the Ukrainian side to operate the cube," the statement said.
The statement said the gesture underscored India's continued commitment to provide humanitarian assistance to war-ravaged Ukraine.
The Prime Minister also interacted with Ukrainian students who are learning the Hindi language at the School of Oriental Studies in Kyiv and appreciated their contribution to promoting mutual understanding between the people of the two countries.
"He also commended their efforts to bring Indian culture and history closer to the Ukrainian people," another statement from the Ministry of External Affairs said.
It is the first-ever visit to Ukraine by an Indian prime minister after the country became independent in 1991, and his trip comes amid Kyiv's fresh military offensive in Russia's western Kursk region.
