The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has confirmed the arrival of Ukraine’s Foreign Minister, Dmytro Kuleba, in New Delhi today for a pivotal two-day official visit. The visit comes at the invitation of Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, indicating a significant step in bilateral relations between the two nations.
During his stay, Minister Kuleba is scheduled to engage in a series of high-level discussions, including meetings with Minister Jaishankar and Deputy National Security Advisor, to deliberate on enhancing bilateral cooperation and addressing pressing regional and global challenges of mutual interest. Additionally, Minister Kuleba is expected to interact with members of the Indian business community, fostering economic ties between Ukraine and India.
The anticipation for Minister Kuleba’s visit had been building since last week, with reports surfacing on India TV and later confirmed by the Ukrainian Foreign Minister himself through a heartfelt social media post on March 25. This visit marks the first by a senior Ukrainian official to India since the onset of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, underscoring the importance of the diplomatic engagement.
Earlier diplomatic exchanges between Ukrainian and Indian officials have focused on seeking a peaceful resolution to the conflict in Ukraine, with discussions centering on Kyiv’s proposed peace formula and plans for the upcoming ‘Global Peace Summit.’ Notably, Russia, a key player in the conflict, has been excluded from the summit, emphasizing the international community’s efforts to find a resolution.
The timing of Minister Kuleba’s visit holds significance in light of recent conversations between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, where President Zelenskyy appealed to India to leverage its diplomatic influence with Russia to help end the conflict. In response, Prime Minister Modi reiterated India’s steadfast support for peace initiatives and humanitarian assistance to Ukraine.
The invitation extended to Minister Kuleba for this visit contrasts with earlier speculation surrounding Ukraine’s participation in the G20 Summit hosted by India in September last year. Despite expectations, Ukraine was not invited to the summit, possibly to avoid complicating India’s diplomatic objectives amidst Russia’s active involvement in the event.
As diplomatic efforts intensify to address the ongoing crisis in Ukraine, Minister Kuleba’s visit to India underscores the growing importance of strategic partnerships in promoting global peace and stability. Stay tuned for further updates on the outcomes of the diplomatic deliberations between Ukrainian and Indian officials.
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