PM Modi's Historic Visit to Ukraine, four MoU/Agreement signed

During Prime Minister Narendra Modi's historic visit to Ukraine, both countries signed four Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)/agreements to strengthen their bilateral relations.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi was on a two-nation visit to Poland and Ukraine from 21-23  August 2024.

Prime Minister Modi's visit to Ukraine is the first by any Indian Prime Minister since establishing diplomatic relations with Ukraine in January 1992.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived for a short seven-hour stay in Ukraine on 23 December after visiting Poland on a special Train ‘Rail Force One’.

About Rail Force One 

Rail Force One is a special train run by the government-owned Ukrainian Railways. It was built to carry tourists to Crimea before Russia annexed the region in 2014. 

Since the start of the Russia- Ukraine war in February 2022, the train has emerged as the preferred mode of travel for foreign dignitaries as the Ukrainian air space is closed due to war.

• Since the Russia-Ukraine war, American President Joe Biden, French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, and other world leaders have used the train to visit Kyiv.
• The Train was named Rail Force One after Joe Biden visited Ukraine in February 2023. The American President travels in a special aircraft called Air Force One, and since he visited Ukraine on the train in February 2023, it was renamed Rail Force One.
• The train starts from Przemyśl Główny station in Poland and travels 700 km to Kyiv, covering the journey in 10 hours.

Four MoU/Agreement Signed During Modi’s Visit 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during his seven-hour brief visit to Ukraine in Kyiv. The leaders discussed the war situation and bilateral relations and later issued a Joint Statement.

Four agreements/MoUs were signed during PM Modi’s visit. These are

• Cooperation in Agriculture and Food Industry; 
• Cooperation in Medical Products Regulation; 
• India to provide Humanitarian Grant Assistance to Ukraine for Implementation of High Impact Community Development Projects and
• Cultural Cooperation for the 2024-2028 period.

Four BHISHM Cubes Gifted to Ukraine 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi gifted four BHISHM (Bharat Health Initiative for Sahyog Hita & Maitri) Cubes to Ukraine. 

• The BHISHM Cubes, known as the Arogya Maitri Aid Cube, is the world's first portable hospital. It was first unveiled in Gurugram(Haryana) on 2 December 2023.
• The BHISHM project is a joint effort of the Union Ministry of Defence and the Health and Family Welfare.
• The portable hospitable can be deployed anywhere through airdrop or ground transportation and can start treating patients within eight minutes of its deployment.
• The Cube has the necessary medical equipment, an operation theatre, a mini ICU, etc. It is capable of handling gunshot wounds, head, spinal cord and chest injuries, burns, minor surgeries, fractures and major bleeding.
• It can treat more than 200 patients.
• Indian experts will provide training to the Ukrainians on operating the BHISHM cubes.

PM Modi visits Mahatma Gandhi Statue

Prime Minister Modi also visited the Mahatma Gandhi statue in Kyiv's Oasis of Peace park. 

He paid homage to Mahatma Gandhi and said his teaching offered solutions to present-day global challenges.

About Ukraine 

Ukraine is the second largest country in Europe after Russia in terms of area.

It was part of the Soviet Union and gained independence in 1991 after the collapse of the Soviet Union.

Capital: Kyiv

Currency: hryvnya

President :  Volodymyr Zelensky