Prime Minister Narendra Modi has acknowledged and thanked Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for his greetings on India's Independence Day, reaffirming India's commitment to strengthening ties with Ukraine and expressing wishes for peace and prosperity for the Ukrainian people.
Zelenskyy's message, delivered on India's 79th Independence Day, highlighted the shared values of both nations in standing up for freedom and dignity, as well as their mutual pursuit of peace and development. The Ukrainian President voiced his hope that India would contribute to the efforts aimed at resolving the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, ensuring the security of Ukrainian freedom and sovereignty. Furthermore, Zelenskyy expressed optimism about future cooperation between Ukraine and India in various sectors, including science, technology, trade, and culture.
In response to Zelenskyy's message, PM Modi conveyed his appreciation for the warm greetings and underscored the joint commitment to fostering closer relations between the two countries. Modi earnestly wished for a future marked by peace, progress, and prosperity for the people of Ukraine.
This exchange of greetings occurs amidst significant global events, including the recent summit in Alaska between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, which addressed the conflict in Ukraine. While the summit concluded without a definitive agreement on the situation in Ukraine, it has been viewed as a step towards potential future discussions and resolutions.
India has expressed its support for peaceful resolution of the conflict through dialogue and diplomacy. An official statement from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) welcomed the Trump-Putin summit and emphasized the world's desire for an early end to the conflict in Ukraine. The MEA spokesperson, Randhir Jaiswal, commended the leadership of both presidents in pursuing peace and acknowledged the progress made during the summit.
India's relationship with both Ukraine and Russia is complex, particularly in the context of the ongoing war. India's purchase of crude oil from Russia has led to certain economic challenges, including tariffs imposed by the U.S., which claimed that Moscow was using the oil revenue from India to fund its war in Ukraine. Despite these complexities, India has maintained its commitment to dialogue and diplomacy as the means to resolve the conflict.
The exchange between PM Modi and President Zelenskyy, along with India's response to the Trump-Putin summit, underscores India's continued interest in and commitment to fostering stronger bilateral ties with Ukraine and promoting a peaceful resolution to the ongoing conflict.
