Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Friday (August 23) accepted Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s invitation to visit India and said he plans to visit the country, while also stressing that he will be happy to “meet him again.” He said he will come to India “as soon as” the prime minister is “ready to see me.”
His comments came during a press conference after meeting Prime Minister Modi, who was on his first visit to war-torn Ukraine. The two leaders held a conversation on a wide range of issues, a major part of which focused on the war between Russia and Ukraine.
In the joint India-Ukraine statement, the Prime Minister thanked Zelensky for his warm welcome and also extended an invitation to him to visit India “at a mutually convenient opportunity.” India and Ukraine signed four agreements, including on agriculture and medical products.
Zelenskyy on his visit to India
Speaking to the media later in the day, the Ukrainian president said, “Yes (I do plan to visit India) because when you start a partnership, a strategic partnership and you start some dialogue, I think there is no need to waste time or take long breaks and that is why I think it will be good to meet again.”
“And if our meeting takes place in India, I would be delighted. I have read a lot about your great and wonderful country. It is very interesting,” he added.
The President said he “very much” needs India to be on his side.
“I don’t think I have enough time, but in any case it is better to be in your country, because to find the key to your country and your prime minister you need to see your people. I really need to find a key to your country, because I really need your country to be on our side… It is not about your historic choice, but who knows? Maybe your country can be the key to this diplomatic influence,” he said.
“That is why I will be happy to come to India as soon as its government and prime minister are ready to see me,” Zelenskyy added.
Speaking directly with India on the issue of trade, the President said that Ukraine is “ready to trade.”
“Yes, we are ready (to work directly with India and buy products made in India in the near future). I gave all these messages to their producers. As I said, we are ready to exchange… We are ready to buy. We are ready to produce. We are ready to open their companies here or we are ready to open our companies in India. So we are very ready for that dialogue and for that work…” he said.
Prime Minister Modi in Ukraine
PM Modi’s visit to Ukraine was the first by an Indian prime minister since diplomatic relations were established more than three decades ago. The trip follows PM Modi’s visit to Moscow on July 8-9, which drew criticism from the US and Zelenskyy because it coincided with a deadly Russian attack on a children’s hospital in kyiv.
PM Modi had earlier met Zelensky on the sidelines of the Group of Seven summit in Italy in June. Zelensky invited the prime minister to visit Ukraine. They have also spoken several times on the phone since Russia’s full-scale war in February 2022.
(With ANI inputs)
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