Kiev, August 24 (HS). Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi left for his destination from the capital Kiev on Friday night after a historic visit of about seven to eight hours to Ukraine. The air distance from Kiev to New Delhi is about 4540 kilometers and the flight time is 6 hours 55 minutes. This visit was special in the sense that this is the first visit of an Indian Prime Minister to Kiev after Ukraine's independence. Ukraine's President Zelensky has admitted that if India changes its stance, the war with Russia can end.
Before leaving Kiev, Prime Minister Modi proposed to Russia and Ukraine to come to the negotiating table. This visit of Prime Minister Modi has taken place exactly six weeks after his visit to Russia. Modi had also appealed to Russian President Putin to bring peace in the war through dialogue. Now it is believed that on his appeal both the countries can reach the threshold of dialogue.
According to the Press Information Bureau (PIB) of the Government of India, Prime Minister Modi interacted with Ukrainian students learning Hindi language at the School of Oriental Studies in Kyiv yesterday. The Prime Minister appreciated the intellect of the students and their contribution in promoting mutual understanding between the people of the two countries. Prime Minister Modi also gifted four 'Bhishma (India Health Initiative for Cooperation, Benefit and Maitri) Cubes' to the Government of Ukraine. President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky thanked the Prime Minister for humanitarian assistance. 'Bhishma Cubes' will greatly help in the speedy treatment of the injured and will also contribute significantly in saving precious lives.
List of documents signed
1-Agreement between the Government of the Republic of India and the Government of Ukraine on cooperation in the field of agriculture and food industry.
Its objective is to expand mutually beneficial cooperation in the field of agriculture and food industry by promoting relations in the areas of exchange of information, joint scientific research, exchange of experience, cooperation in agricultural research, creation of joint working groups, etc.
2-Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India and the State Service for Drugs and Pharmaceuticals Control of Ukraine on cooperation in the field of medical products regulation.
Objective-It envisages cooperation on medical products including improvement of regulation, safety and quality aspects mainly through exchange of information, capacity building, workshops, training and mutual visits.
3-Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Government of the Republic of India and the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine regarding Indian Humanitarian Grant Assistance for the Implementation of High Impact Community Development Projects.
Objective-This MoU lays down the framework for providing grant assistance by India for community development projects in Ukraine. Projects under HICDP will be undertaken in partnership with the Government of Ukraine for the benefit of the people of Ukraine.
4-Cultural Cooperation Programme for the Years 2024-2028 between the Ministry of Culture of the Government of the Republic of India and the Ministry of Culture and Information Policy of Ukraine.
Its objective is to strengthen cultural cooperation between India and Ukraine, including by promoting cultural exchange and cooperation in the fields of theatre, music, fine arts, literature, library and museum work, as well as preservation and promotion of tangible and intangible cultural heritage.