A reception organized by the Embassy of India in Ukraine in honor of the 75th anniversary of the Republic Day was held in the capital of Ukraine, Kyiv.
The event brought together representatives of the Ukrainian government, diplomatic corps, Indian diaspora and the public. Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Yevhen Perebyinis was the main guest of the event.
“On January 26, 1950, the Constitution of India came into force, marking the transition of our country to a sovereign, independent, democratic, secular republic. We are proud of the ideals of justice, freedom, equality and fraternity,” said Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of India to Ukraine Ravi Shankar.
In his speech, the diplomat emphasized the significance of Republic Day for the Indian people, stressing that in 75 years India has become one of the fastest growing economies in the world, which is preparing to become the third largest.
“Bold reforms, investments in infrastructure and innovations such as quantum technologies, artificial intelligence and space exploration make our country a key player in global processes. Another priority is the biotechnology industry, in particular the Genome project. It is also worth mentioning the latest achievement – docking in space, which has brought the country into the top four world leaders in the industry,” the ambassador said.
Shankar devoted a significant part of his speech to Ukrainian-Indian relations. He recalled the historic visit of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Kyiv in August 2024, which became a “landmark” for bilateral cooperation:
“We seek to transform our relationship from a Comprehensive Partnership to a Strategic Partnership. Special attention is paid to humanitarian support for Ukraine. In particular, India has donated mobile hospitals “BHISHM Cubes”, which are now helping to quickly treat the wounded and save precious lives on the front line, and has decided to finance the project “Renovation and modernization of the surgical department of the Zbarazh Central Hospital in Ternopil region worth $1.5 million,” the ambassador said.
He emphasized that India supports a comprehensive, just peace in accordance with international law.
The Ambassador praised the growing interest of Ukrainians in Indian culture, language and traditions. He thanked Ukrainian students who study Hindi and emphasized the importance of cultural exchanges. “The program signed last year opens up new opportunities for academic scholarships, international projects, and preserving our common heritage,” Shankar said.
At the end of the event, guests enjoyed traditional Indian food and music. The event highlighted past achievements and optimistic prospects for cooperation between India and Ukraine in the coming decades.
India recognized Ukraine’s independence on December 26, 1991. On January 17, 1992, diplomatic relations between Ukraine and India were established. Republic Day is a national holiday of India that celebrates the adoption of the Constitution of India and the country’s transition from a British dominion to a republic on January 26, 1950.
Source: https://interfax.com.ua
