Інтерв’ю Посла України в Індії Олександра Поліщука журналісту Резаулу Ласкару, опубліковане в газеті Hindustan Times 22 серпня 2024 року (англ.мовою). Читайте інтерв’ю повністю на сайті видання.

“Indian PM’s visit will open new window of opportunities’: Ukraine envoy to HT

NEW DELHI: Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Kyiv, Ukrainian ambassador Oleksandr Polishchuk has urged India, as the voice of the Global South, to enhance its efforts to bring a just and lasting peace in Ukraine. In an exclusive interview with HT, Polishchuk said President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s peace formula will be one of the most important topics during the visit on August 23. India, he said, has the “necessary authority” to help settle conflicts such as Russia’s war against Ukraine. Edited excerpts:

How do you assess the current status of India-Ukraine relations, especially after the interregnum created by the war in Ukraine?

First of all, I’m confident that wording is important: Ukrainians are going through “Russia’s full- scale military aggression against Ukraine”, but not the “war in Ukraine”.

Ukraine and India have developed warm, friendly and trusting relations. In 2012, we established a comprehensive partnership. Our dialogue is maintained regularly and on different levels. I would like to emphasise that since the Russian full-scale aggression against Ukraine began in February 2022, the Ukrainian and Indian sides had more than 40 interactions at the high and highest levels.

It is important that along with telecoms, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Prime Minister Narendra Modi had an opportunity to exchange views in-person during the G7 Summits in Italy in June this year and in Japan in 2023.

Regular personal dialogue is maintained between the Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, Andriy Yermak, and India’s NSA Ajit Doval.

In March 2024, our foreign minister Dmytro Kuleba made an official visit to New Delhi on the invitation of external affairs minister S Jaishankar.

Preparatory work to hold the 7th meeting of the Ukraine-India Intergovernmental Commission later this year is in full swing. We have already conducted meetings on trade and economic cooperation, scientific and technological cooperation, health care and pharmaceuticals, education and culture.

I believe the historic visit of the Indian Prime Minister to Ukraine will open a new window of opportunities.

India was one of the largest importers of sunflower oil from Ukraine but the war impacted trade. What is being done to bolster commercial ties?

We are working to bring trade between our countries to pre-war levels. It is one of the main priorities for both countries. In the first six months of 2024, India imported nearly as much Ukrainian sunflower oil as it did through- out 2023.

In May, we conducted the meeting of the joint working group on trade cooperation. We discussed additional mechanisms for trade liberalisation, development of the legal framework in trade, economic and investment spheres, India’s participation in post-war reconstruction and rebuilding projects in Ukraine, and participation of Indian investors in privatisation processes in Ukraine.

Today is a favourable time for deepening our economic cooperation through mechanisms of mutually beneficial investments, exchange of modern technologies and joint ventures, and production of most technological products in various fields. Namely, mechanical engineering, aircraft and engine manufacturing, metallurgy, IT, development of seaport and railway infrastructure, hi-tech, pharmaceuticals, renewable energy and agriculture.

The intergovernmental agreement on cooperation in agriculture and food industry is almost ready for signing; we hope to conclude it soon. There are numerous promising opportunities for Ukraine and India to collaborate on joint research and development in the pharmaceutical sector, particularly in production of vaccines, treatments for oncological diseases and other critical medical advancements.

Despite unprecedented challenges from the full-scale invasion, Ukraine has shown remark- able economic resilience. After a drop in GDP by 28.8% in 2022, by the end of 2023, we achieved 5.3% GDP growth. This trend continues in 2024, despite the systematic Russian shelling of civil and critical infrastructure.

We invite public and private companies from India to participate in the post-war reconstruction of Ukraine, which is the most ambitious project post- World War 2. According to avail- able data, direct damage to Ukraine from the war is $152.5 billion, the total economic, social, and other losses are nearly $499 billion, and the recovery needs amount to $486 billion. Ukraine can only tackle these challenges together with trusted partners like India.

Ukraine has been a supplier of defence and space equipment to India. What steps are being taken to strengthen cooperation in these fields?

Ukraine and India have a long history of defence cooperation. This sphere has always been one of the main topics in our relations. Today, Ukraine’s expertise in this field could contribute to India’s defence production, in particular under Prime Minister Modi’s “Make in India” initiative, taking into account the experience gained by Ukraine over the past two-and-a-half years of resilience.

We are ready to create joint ventures between Ukrainian and Indian defence companies to co-develop and manufacture defence equipment. This includes potential partnerships for joint development of aircraft engines, gas turbines and other defence systems in India.

With great pleasure, we witnessed India’s successful Chan- drayaan-3 Moon mission. I was excited to learn an Indian satellite was launched by a rocket equipped with engines manufactured in India as a result of a joint Ukrainian-Indian technology transfer project.

What are Ukraine’s expectations from PM Modi’s visit? What issues will Pres- ident Zelenskyy raise?

This is the first visit of India’s Prime Minister to Ukraine in the history of bilateral relations. The period of the visit is symbolic – August 23 is the Day of the National Flag of Ukraine, just one day before Independence Day. The topics for negotiations will include a range of issues – bilateral and multilateral cooperation, trade and economy, technology, defence, infrastructure development, culture and education.

The implementation of the Ukrainian Peace Formula presented by President Zelenskyy will be one of the most important topics of negotiations. This formula is based strictly on principles of the UN Charter, including respect for territorial integrity and sovereignty – the only comprehensive framework for a just and sustainable peace in Ukraine. We highly appreciate and welcome India’s regular engagement in implementation of the Peace Formula.

In the spirit of “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam”, we call upon India to enhance its efforts as the voice of the Global South to bringing a just and lasting peace in Ukraine.

We are extremely grateful to India for providing humanitarian assistance. We count that India will continue its provision, it saves the lives of Ukrainians.

Given India’s long-standing relations with Russia, does Ukraine see any role for India in mediation to help end the war? Has India facilitated background contacts between Russia and Ukraine?

India’s vision is very important. Over the past 10 years, India has transformed into a leader of the Global South. I am convinced India has the necessary authority for effective assistance in settlement of international conflicts, including Russia’s war against Ukraine. Ukraine welcomes every peace effort that does not call for territorial concessions from Ukraine, including Crimea of course, and does not result in a frozen conflict instead of peace.

Based on this, I believe India and personally Prime Minister Modi have the necessary authority and influence to persuade Russia to consider fair negotiations and a peaceful resolution.

We are confident that India, as Vishwa Bandhu, will continue to do everything within its means to support a peaceful solution by the Ukrainian Peace Formula and the principles of international law. Peace and prosperity for our nations, and the world, are goals that unite Ukrainian and Indian positions.

What role does Ukraine see for India in ongoing multilateral peace efforts, given India’s reluctance to be part of any process that excludes Russia?

I would not use the word reluctance. India participated in each round of talks of national security and foreign policy advisers on implementation of Ukraine’s Peace Formula, contributing to a meaningful dialogue. India also attended the first peace summit in Switzerland in June at a high level.

We respect India’s intention to maintain strategic autonomy and neutrality. At the same time, neutrality is dangerous when the rules-based order and international law are in jeopardy.

It is a common duty of democratic and peaceful nations, and India is the biggest democratic state in the world, to protect shared values. It is in India’s national interests to have strong and effective global mechanisms ensuring that every country respects its neighbours’ sovereignty, territorial integrity and desire to live in peace.

India has consistently called for peace through diplomacy and dialogue and emphasised the importance of respecting territorial integrity and sovereignty, principles that align with our position. President Zelenskyy shares the opinion of Prime Minister Modi that terrorism shall not be tolerated in its every form and manifestation. Terrorism is particularly dangerous when it becomes a tool of aggressive separatism and attempts to change borders of states.

The President of Ukraine stated that Russia should be invited to the second peace summit to be held later this year. That is why we hope India will support the Joint Communiqué on a Peace Framework adopted at the first global peace summit in Switzer- land, and attend the second peace summit at the highest level. India’s participation at such a level will be a vivid illustration of India’s policy of maintaining balanced relations with all countries".