The First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Emine Dzhaparova will arrive on a four-day official visit to India today, the details of which has been released by the Ministry of External Affairs on Saturday.
Pertinently, the MEA calls the high-level visit an occasion to further mutual understanding and interests between India and Ukraine amidst the current scenario.
Elaborating on the details of the visit, the MEA in a statement said, starting April 9 to April 12, during her four-day long visit, Minister Dzhaparova will attend several key bilateral meets and will hold deliberations on range of issues pertaining to regional and global issues of mutual interest with the top Indian government officials.
Significantly, the Minister's visit marks the first official visit from Ukraine to India ever since the crisis broke out there in last February.
In a statement released, the MEA said, apart from holding discussion on the current situation in war-ravaged country with a top MEA official Sanjay Verma, Secretary (West), MEA, the Ukrainian Minister will also take a stock of current bilateral ties shared between both nations. During the visit, the Minister will also meet Deputy National Security Adviser Vikram Misri.
"During the visit, Ms. Dzhaparova will hold talks with Shri Sanjay Verma, Secretary (West), MEA, where both sides are expected to discuss bilateral relations, exchange views on the current situation in Ukraine and global issues of mutual interest," MEA said.
Further speaking of India-Ukraine ties, the MEA added, "India shares warm and friendly relations and multifaceted cooperation with Ukraine. Over the last 30 years of establishing diplomatic relations, bilateral cooperation between the two countries has made significant progress in the areas of trade, education, culture and defence."
During the visit, Minister Dzhaparova will also call on Minister of State for External Affairs and Culture, Meenakshi Lekhi.
India’s critical global voice has proven to be a game changer in Russia-Ukraine conflict
It is pertinent to note that, India’s critical global voice has proven to be a game changer in the conflict, emphasising the path of dialogue and diplomacy. In fact, over the last year, Prime Minister Modi held several talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, reiterating the call for an immediate cessation of hostilities while pursuing diplomacy. Notably, New Delhi’s strong emphasis on the path of dialogue and diplomacy while considering the national interest is something that the world has lauded. With its firm resolve to strive for peaceful solution over the conflict, while trying to recede the emerging devastating consequences which is being felt even in the distant region, New Delhi has demonstrated its role as an effective interlocuter.