Ukrainian President Zelensky writes to Indian PM, seeks humanitarian aid
- 12 Apr 2023
Ukraine's First Deputy Foreign Minister Emine Dzhaparova has handed over a letter from President Volodymyr Zelensky, addressed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, to the Indian government, requesting for additional humanitarian supply, including medicines and medical equipment.
The minister, who was on official visit to India between April 10 to 12, handed over the letter from the Ukraine president addressed to Modi, to Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Meenakshi Lekhi on Tuesday, according to a statement issued by the External Affairs Ministry on Wednesday.
READ MORE
Russia conducts test launch of 'advanced' ICBM
Four Indian nationals killed in Nepal accident
On the issue of Indian medical students, Dzhaparova mentioned that Ukraine will allow foreign medical students to take the Unified State Qualification Exam in their country of domicile.
During her meeting with Secretary (West) in the External Affairs Ministry Sanjay Verma, Dzhaparova briefed him about the prevailing situation in Ukraine.
The Ukrainian minister also proposed that rebuilding infrastructure in Ukraine could be an opportunity for Indian companies, official sources informed further.
Verma shared that India has provided medicines, medical equipment and would provide school buses among other things to Ukraine.
The two sides agreed to hold the next round of Foreign Office Consultations in Kiev on a mutually convenient date.
During bilateral talks with Verma, Dzhaparova discussed issues of economic, defence, humanitarian assistance as well as global issues of mutual interest, sources said.
Modi and Zelenskyy have spoken over the phone in the past year, but India has refrained from condemning Russia’s invasion and has abstained several times from voting on UN resolutions against Moscow. India has maintained high-level contacts with Russia and is one of Moscow's key trade partners in the defence and oil industries.
New Delhi has stressed the need for diplomacy and dialogue on ending the war and has expressed its willingness to contribute to peace efforts.
Apart from providing medicines and medical equipment, India would also supply school buses to Ukraine, the Indian statement said.
India "can play a bigger and greater role” and Ukraine would "welcome any effort that is directed at resolving the war,” Dzhaparovasaid in a speech at the Indian Council of World Affairs, a think tank in New Delhi.The two sides also agreed to hold the next round of foreign ministry consultations in Kyiv on a mutually convenient date, the Indian foreign ministry said.
Agencies
