Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasized the importance of collaboration with India in advanced technologies spanning various sectors such as agriculture, cybersecurity, and defense. He highlighted the potential for co-production of drones, electronic warfare systems, and more during his discussions with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
During a press briefing, President Zelenskyy mentioned that Ukraine has seen a rise in its private companies, particularly in fields like drones, sea drones, and cybersecurity. He expressed readiness to share these products with India and explore opportunities for co-production. He emphasized the need for strengthening the war economy and achieving mutual benefits between the two nations.
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Expanding on the range of high-end technologies, President Zelenskyy highlighted areas such as agriculture, de-mining, medicine, security including drones, electronic warfare systems, and combating cyber attacks. He expressed willingness to engage in discussions on sea drones and various other technologies, emphasizing the potential for co-production to cater to both markets.
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President Zelenskyy acknowledged the current priority of self-defense in light of the ongoing war but expressed readiness to commence collaborative efforts, stating that the war will eventually come to an end.
India currently utilizes a significant amount of military equipment of Ukrainian origin alongside Russian equipment. Following the conflict in Ukraine, India faced delays in supplies and spares, prompting efforts to diversify and reduce dependence by engaging domestic companies and seeking alternative vendors in other countries.
Several joint ventures between Ukrainian manufacturers and Indian private sector are in progress to manufacture spares and provide maintenance services in India.
Regarding defense cooperation, the joint statement issued post the discussions highlighted the importance of enhancing defense collaboration between the two nations. They agreed to continue working towards strengthening relations between their defense entities through joint collaborations, partnerships for manufacturing in India, and cooperation in emerging areas. The second meeting of the Indian-Ukrainian Joint Working Group on Military-Technical Cooperation is scheduled to take place in India soon.
Focus on agriculture
The talks particularly emphasized agriculture and pharmaceuticals, as evidenced by the joint statement and signed agreements. One of the agreements focuses on cooperation in agriculture and the food industry, aiming to enhance mutual cooperation through information exchange, joint research, sharing of experiences, agricultural research cooperation, and formation of joint working groups.
President Zelenskyy remarked, “Agriculture is not only about cultivation but also about establishing and securing agricultural hubs for sustained periods.”
In recent times, President Zelenskyy has advocated for co-production with other nations, citing Ukraine’s requirement for significant arms and ammunition due to the prolonged war. He emphasized the country’s focus on defense production using modern technologies and expressed readiness to collaborate with global leaders in the field.
During discussions with defense companies and associations from various countries, President Zelenskyy explored opportunities for partnership and joint arms production. He mentioned Ukraine’s willingness to offer favorable conditions to companies interested in collaborating on defense production.
