This article covers the political relationship between India and Ukraine: recognition and the establishment of diplomatic relations, visits and meetings between leaders, the Intergovernmental Commission, Foreign Office Consultations and defence cooperation. It is based on the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) brief on India-Ukraine bilateral relations of August 2024, and events after that month are outside its scope.
Recognition and diplomatic relations
According to the MEA brief of August 2024, India recognised Ukraine's independence in December 1991 and established diplomatic relations with it in January 1992. The brief describes Ukraine as the largest country in Europe, with an area of about 6 lakh sq. km and a population of over 37 million.
The brief states that India-Ukraine relations have steadily grown and expanded over more than three decades. It refers to a mutual and abiding interest in further deepening relations, especially in trade and commerce, agriculture, pharmaceuticals, defence, education, science and technology, and culture, and in enhancing interaction between the two sides at various levels.
Presidential visits
There have been three Presidential-level visits from Ukraine to India, in 1992, 2002 and 2012. From India, President Dr. S. D. Sharma visited Ukraine in 1993 and President Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam visited in 2005.
In addition to these visits, the brief records that both sides have sustained interactions at various levels, including at official and ministerial levels.
Meetings between the Prime Minister and President Zelenskyy
As of the brief, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and the President of Ukraine, H.E. Volodymyr Zelenskyy, have had three bilateral meetings on the margins of multilateral events. The most recent recorded in the brief took place on 14 June 2024 on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in Apulia. In remarks in Kyiv on 03 September 2026, External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar said the latest meeting of the two leaders was on the sidelines of the G-7 Summit in Evian, France, in June 2026.
The two leaders had met earlier in Hiroshima in May 2023, on the margins of the G7 summit, and on the sidelines of COP26. As of the brief, they had also held seven telephone conversations.
Intergovernmental Commission
The Agreement on the establishment of the Indian-Ukrainian Intergovernmental Commission (IGC) on Trade, Economic, Scientific, Technological, Industrial and Cultural Cooperation was signed in 1994, and the first meeting of the IGC was held in December 1994. Six meetings of the IGC have been held so far, the sixth in Kyiv in February 2018.
The brief states that the IGC plays an important role in guiding cooperation between the two countries, in many areas, including through Joint Working Groups in areas such as:
- Trade & Economic Cooperation
- Healthcare & Pharmaceuticals
- Committee on Scientific & Technical Cooperation
- Tourism
- Chemicals & Fertilizers
- Agriculture
- Consular Dialogue
- Mining and Metallurgy
- Transport/Civil Aviation
- Power Sector
- Nuclear Energy and Atomic Energy
Foreign Office Consultations
Foreign Office Consultations (FOCs) between the two countries have been held in 1994, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2010 and 2023. The ninth round of FOCs was held in Kyiv on 11 July 2023.
Defence cooperation
The brief describes defence cooperation as one of the strong pillars of bilateral relations and as a promising area for future collaboration between the two countries. Ukraine has been a source of military technology and equipment for India since its independence, including for the procurement of spares and equipment.
A Defence Cooperation Agreement was signed between the two countries on 12 December 2012. The first meeting of the India-Ukraine Joint Working Group on Defence was held in Kyiv in June 2018.
Indian and Ukrainian companies are exploring opportunities for greater collaboration and partnership in this area, according to the brief. Ukrainian companies take part in various defence exhibitions and expos held in India.