UPDATE - Ukraine, India sign 4 agreements during Modi visit

ADDS MORE DETAILS; CHANGES HEADLINE, DECK, LEDE

By Burc Eruygur

ISTANBUL (AA) - As Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv on Friday, the two countries signed four cooperation agreements.

"Today, we have approved ... four documents between Ukraine and India during this historic visit by Prime Minister (Narendra) Modi," Zelenskyy said in a meeting with Modi at the Mariinskyi Palace, the official residence of the Ukraine president.

The documents cover fields such as medical, agricultural cooperation, humanitarian relations and culture, Zelenskyy said, adding that both sides also agreed on a joint statement that focuses on the development of a strategic partnership.

The joint statement also concerns building bilateral trade and military-technical cooperation​​​​​​, he added.

He said the issue of ending the war and a just peace is a priority for Kyiv, thanking India for its participation at the first Ukraine peace summit held in Switzerland in June.

Zelenskyy thanked India for its support for Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity, and for the 16 humanitarian packages it has provided.

Modi arrived in Ukraine’s capital after a visit to neighboring Poland. Upon his arrival, Modi also paid homage at a statue of Mahatma Gandhi.

The visit was the first by an Indian prime minister to Ukraine since the establishment of bilateral relations in 1992.

Modi met Russian President Vladimir Putin during a visit to Moscow last month.

Trade between Russia and India has increased since Russia’s war on Ukraine in 2022, despite Western sanctions.