Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba held a meeting with Partha Satpathy, Ambassador of India to Ukraine.

Both parties emphasised the importance of high level cooperation between the two nations during the pandemic. They agreed that India will provide support for Ukrainian citizens who are now unable to leave the country. Respectively, Ukraine will also support Indian citizens in Ukraine.

Dmytro Kuleba specifically mentioned Indian students as India is top in terms of the number of students studying in Ukrainian universities.

“Foreign students are an integral part of our society and need their rights and liberties protected in the same way as the rights of our own citizens”, Dmytro Kuleba said.

He also stressed the importance of cooperation between the two countries in the pharmaceuticals sector. Mr Ambassador reiterated India’s intention to facilitate purchases of medication to help sufferers of coronavirus in Ukraine.

The parties shared the opinion that the pandemic should not impede further cooperation between the two nations as India is currently one of Ukraine’s largest trading partners.

Dmytro Kuleba pointed out that with the pandemic likely to lead to some economic decline, it is paramount for both nations to back exports and trade.

The Minister stressed that intensifying bilateral relations is one of his key objectives. To achieve this, both parties aim to strengthen their political dialogue on the high and highest levels.

Additional Information

In 2019, India became the eighth biggest importer of Ukrainian goods, totalling US$2.765 bn and holds the first place among countries by the number of students studying in Ukraine.

On Aug.1, 2019, President Zelensky of Ukraine held a telephone conversation with Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India.

The Foreign Ministers of both countries last met on Sept. 25, 2019, within the framework of the 74th UN General Assembly.