Kyiv, September 3, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar in Kyiv on Thursday, with the two sides discussing ways to strengthen India-Ukraine bilateral ties as well as approaches to ending the ongoing conflict.
Jaishankar, who is on his first standalone bilateral visit to Ukraine by an Indian External Affairs Minister, said his conversation with Zelensky centred on efforts to end the conflict.
“Pleased to call on President Zelensky today. Apprised him of discussions with FM Andrii Sybiha on deepening our bilateral cooperation. Our conversation centered on approaches to end the ongoing conflict,” Jaishankar posted on X.
Zelensky said the two sides discussed several important issues, including the situation in the Black Sea, and expressed gratitude to India for its stated desire to end what he described as an “unjust war”.
“We are grateful to India for its desire to end this unjust war — the war of Russia against Ukraine. This time must certainly not be a time of war. Peace is needed. This is India’s clear position,” Zelensky wrote on X.
He also said Russia had launched jet-powered Shahed drones while the Indian delegation was in Kyiv, adding that Ukrainian combat aviation had helped ensure the delegation’s safety by intercepting most of the drones. Zelensky expressed hope that other major countries would also take a clear position in favour of ending the war and establishing lasting peace.
The Ukrainian President said discussions also covered the Black Sea, particularly threats to civilian shipping and the impact of disruptions to food supplies.
“We need to work together to ensure security,” he said, referring to concerns over Russian actions affecting Ukrainian ports, the grain corridor and supplies.
Earlier, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha held detailed talks with Jaishankar on peace efforts, Black Sea security, freedom of navigation, global food security and the further development of bilateral relations.
Sybiha said it was “Russian aggression” that had turned the Black Sea into a zone of hostilities and recalled that Indian seafarers had also been among those killed, offering condolences over their deaths.
According to Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry, the ministers also discussed opportunities for greater Indian involvement in international efforts to end the conflict.
“As Prime Minister Modi recently said in Putin’s presence, it is time to put an end to the endless war. We support this position. Ukraine is ready to end the war, and we have realistic proposals. It is time to move to diplomacy,” Sybiha said.
The bilateral agenda also received significant attention, with Ukraine expressing readiness to expand trade, investment and business ties and increase the participation of Indian companies in reconstruction efforts.
Ukraine said bilateral trade currently stands at around USD 2.6 billion and has considerable potential for further growth. The two sides are expected to discuss a date for the next meeting of the Intergovernmental Ukrainian-Indian Commission to intensify economic engagement.
Energy, infrastructure, transport, agriculture, pharmaceuticals, digitalisation and mechanical engineering were identified as promising areas of cooperation.
Sybiha described India as a “global technological power” and said Ukraine had also emerged as a leader in innovative technologies, including security technologies, as a result of the war.
He further said Ukraine viewed India as an important international partner and wanted to strengthen mutually beneficial relations, while seeking India’s continued support for the principles of the UN Charter, Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, freedom of navigation and international law.
The meetings came days after Zelensky announced that an Indian national was among 12 people killed in Russian drone and missile strikes across Ukraine.
The development also followed Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s appeal on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, for an end to the “endless” war in the name of humanity.
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