Indo - Ukraine relation

Indo - Ukraine relation

 

Why in the news?

  • Recently, India and Ukraine signed four agreements to provide for cooperation in agriculture, medicine, culture & humanitarian assistance.
  • It was the first-ever visit to Ukraine by an Indian prime minister after Ukraine became independent in 1991, and his trip came amid Kyiv’s fresh military offensive in Russia’s western Kursk region.

 

Key highlights of the visit

  • PM Modi reiterated India’s support for peace, mentioning that India is not neutral but is in favour of peace.
  • He highlighted India's tradition of non-violence from Buddha and Gandhi.
  • Modi visited the Martyrologist Exposition at the National Museum of History of Ukraine and expressed sorrow over the loss of innocent children in the conflict.
  • PM Modi presented four BHISHM Cubes to Ukraine, which include medical equipment and supplies for emergency treatment and surgery.
  • BHISM stands for Bharat Health Initiative for Sahyog Hita & Maitri. It is a mobile hospital aimed at providing emergency medical care to Ukraine.
  • Bhishm was initiated under the umbrella of Project Aarogya Maitri, a programme to provide crucial medical supplies to developing nations for humanitarian aid.

 

Indo-Ukraine Relations

 

Historical Background of India-Ukraine Relations

  •  India recognized Ukraine soon after the Soviet Union’s disintegration, establishing diplomatic relations in January 1992. India opened its embassy in Kyiv by May 1992, and Ukraine inaugurated its first mission in Asia in New Delhi by February 1993.
  • India and Ukraine cooperated across various domains, including defense and diaspora relations. However, India’s strong ties with Russia limited the depth of its engagement with Ukraine during the early years.
  •  The Russia-Ukraine conflict led to a significant decline in bilateral trade, dropping from $3.39 billion in 2021-22 to approximately $0.71 billion in 2023-24. This downturn reflects the broader impact of the war on India-Ukraine relations.

 

About Ukraine Geographical Location:

  • Ukraine is located in Eastern Europe and is the second-largest country in Europe after Russia.
  • It shares borders with:

○Russia to the east and northeast,

○Belarus to the north,

○Poland, Slovakia, and Hungary to the west

○Romania and Moldova to the southwest.

  • Ukraine has a coastline along the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov to the south and southeast.

 

Economic relation

  • In the first half of 2024 the volume of bilateral trade amounted to 1.07 billion USD.
  • Export of goods from Ukraine 0.41 billion USD, import of goods from India 0.66 billion USD.
  • The negative trade balance for Ukraine amounted to 0.25 billion USD.
  • The top commodities exported from Ukraine to India were fats and oils of vegetable origin, maize, hard coal, anthracite.
  • Main Indian commodities imported to Ukraine were pharmaceutical products, mineral fuels, petroleum and distillation products, flat-rolled steel, electrical machinery.

Defence Relation

  • Ukraine has been a source of military technology and equipment for India since its independence.
  • Ukraine manufactures the R-27 air-to-air missiles which are in use by the IAF on its SU-30MKI fighters.

 

Challenges in India-Ukraine Relations

  • The ongoing Russia-Ukraine war has significantly reduced trade between India and Ukraine. For example, bilateral trade, which peaked at $3.39 billion in 2021-22, plummeted to approximately $0.71 billion in 2023-24.
  •  This led to India seeking alternative sources, which resulted in higher costs and contributed to food inflation in 2023, stressing household budgets and increasing the cost of living.
  • India’s neutral stance on the Russia-Ukraine conflict, marked by abstentions in UN votes and a refusal to publicly criticize Russia, has strained its geopolitical cooperation with Ukraine.
  • Historical diplomatic tensions have also contributed to the challenges in India-Ukraine relations.
  • The rift between Russia and Ukraine, which burst out into armed combat when Moscow annexed the Crimean Peninsula from Ukraine in 2014, has created a potential dilemma for India.
  • Russia has begun objecting to customers dealing with Ukraine.
  • The potential for trouble with Russia exists because the Indian Air Force (IAF) is currently collaborating with Ukraine to overhaul its fleet of AN-32s.

 

Way to forward

  • India must articulate its own principles for a ceasefire compromise and lasting peace.
  • India will need to recast itself in a more unbiased image in the bilateral relationship.
  • Explore strategic partnerships with Ukraine, particularly in the realm of defence manufacturing.