Ukraine, India finalising enhanced security cooperation: Zelenskyy

“We are also preparing for further work with our European partners to unblock the already-approved support package for Ukraine, delivery of which still hasn’t begun,” Zelenskyy said.

At the meeting with Ukraine’s NSA Rustem Umerov on Friday, Doval conveyed India’s “principled position and focus on peaceful resolution through dialogue and diplomacy”.

This has been Delhi’s position for the last four years of the war between Russia and Ukraine, and was articulated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visits to Russia and Ukraine in the past.

Umerov, who is Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine, said, “We discussed the development of bilateral relations and the assessment of the security situation. The Indian side reaffirmed its consistent position on the need for a peaceful settlement based on dialogue and diplomacy.”

“I am grateful for the shared understanding of the need to find solutions that will ensure a lasting peace,” the Ukrainian NSA said.

Jaishankar also met him and posted on X, “Glad to meet @rustem_umerov, Secretary of the National Security & Defence Council of Ukraine today. Discussed our bilateral cooperation and exchanged views on the Ukraine conflict.”

About the meeting with Jaishankar, the Ukrainian NSA said, “We discussed the current situation on the front line, the progress of negotiations, and the prospects for achieving a just, lasting, and sustainable peace for Ukraine.”

“We also focused on the development of bilateral cooperation and the implementation of agreements outlined in the Joint Statement of the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, following his visit to Ukraine in August 2024,” he said.

“I am grateful for the open and substantive dialogue. We look forward to further strengthening bilateral cooperation,” he said.

After Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, the Russia-Ukraine war is now in its 5th year and there has been no end in sight even as the talks between the two sides were brokered by the US. President Trump has sought to end the conflict, but the war has been in a deadlock.

India has sought to play a diplomatic tightrope walk in the past four years, and has expressed willingness to contribute to the peace efforts.

Last month, India and Ukraine had a diplomatic exchange over the arrest of six Ukrainian nationals (along with an American national) by the NIA on charges of conspiring to carry out terrorist activities against India on March 13. Days later, Ukraine had lodged an official protest with the Ministry of External Affairs, demanding the immediate release of its citizens and access to them.

Ukraine had expressed “serious concern” regarding the circumstances that point to a possible orchestrated and politically motivated nature of the case. The Ukraine foreign office had said that there are no established facts proving the involvement of its citizens in unlawful activities on the territory of India or Myanmar.

The Ambassador of Ukraine to India, Oleksandr Polishchuk, held a meeting with MEA Secretary (West) Sibi George and handed over an official note of protest.