PM Modi, Zelenskyy discuss trade, bilateral cooperation on sidelines of G7 Summit
Evian, June 18
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Wednesday reviewed bilateral cooperation and discussed ways to restore trade and expand economic ties during a meeting on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in Evian, France.
Following the meeting, PM Modi said the two leaders discussed various aspects of India-Ukraine cooperation and reaffirmed the importance of peace and dialogue.
"Met President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Evian. In recent times, India and Ukraine have been engaging extensively. This has been reflected in different areas of our cooperation. Our talks today were about reviewing different aspects of our cooperation. We both agree that trade ties need to be restored to what they were in the pre-war time. Also reiterated that India will always be on the side of peace, placing the values of humanity over everything else," PM Modi said in a post on X.
The bilateral meeting was attended by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval.
Zelenskyy also highlighted the potential for deeper cooperation between the two countries and said both sides agreed to work on expanding ongoing projects.
"I met with Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi. Our countries have great potential for cooperation, and we are already implementing joint projects. Today, we discussed how to give them even more substance and expand cooperation across various sectors," Zelenskyy said in a post on X.
"Importantly, the Prime Minister is interested in developing mutually beneficial relations with Ukraine and sees that this partnership can make our people stronger. There are good industrial and other projects that we can implement together. We agreed that our teams would work through all the details," he added.
The meeting took place amid renewed international focus on the conflict in Ukraine during the G7 Summit. Earlier, G7 leaders issued a declaration reaffirming their support for Ukraine, pledging additional air defence systems, interceptors and long-range ammunition while granting licenses to expand Ukraine's military production capabilities.
The leaders also agreed to strengthen sanctions on Russia's oil and gas sectors and provide further support to help Ukraine meet its energy needs ahead of the winter season.
In their joint declaration, G7 leaders have reiterated their "unwavering support" for Ukraine's sovereignty, territorial integrity and freedom, while commending the resilience of the Ukrainian people amid the prolonged conflict.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Finally some diplomacy happening! India's neutral stance is actually smart - we can talk to both sides. But the trade restoration talk is key - our wheat and pharma exports to Ukraine could really help their economy post-war. 🇮🇳🌾
Zelenskyy is a great leader, but India should also remember our historical ties with Russia. We can't just abandon 70 years of friendship for a photo op at G7. Balance is everything in foreign policy. 🙏
As someone who's visited both countries, India's role as a bridge between East and West is crucial here. Modi and Zelenskyy both seem pragmatic. The industrial collaboration talk gives me hope for real reconstruction work. Let's see some concrete deals next!
Modi ji saying "values of humanity over everything else" - but where was that humanity when Russia invaded? I appreciate the diplomatic balancing act, but India should have condemned the war from day one. Peace talk without action is just talk. 😕
Interesting how India plays both sides - buying Russian oil while meeting Zelenskyy. As an outsider, it seems clever but also a bit opportunistic. The trade restoration goal is noble though. Pre-war levels would help Ukraine's economy recover faster.
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.