Pakistan–Ukraine relations

The bilateral trade between the two countries started on 16 March 1992. In 2021, the volume of Pakistan-Ukraine trade turnover had reached US$411.814 million.[2]

Pakistan is also a major importer of Ukrainian wheat.[3]

In the late 1990s, Ukraine sold Pakistan 320 Ukrainian T-80UD main battle tanks in a deal worth US$650 million. According to Kyiv Post, the deal literally saved Kharkiv Malyshev Tank Factory from bankruptcy.[4]

According to Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) databases, from 1991 to 2020, Ukraine completed arms contracts with Pakistan with a total value of nearly US$1.6 billion. During that period, Pakistan was described as Ukraine's biggest arms customer right next to Russia, China, India, and Thailand.[4]

In December 2008, Pakistan signed an agreement with Ukraine to purchase four Il-78 refueling aircraft outfitted with Russian-designed UPAZ refueling pods. All of the purchased aircraft were delivered by 2012.[5]

In June 2020, Ukrspetsexport and Pakistani officials signed a multimillion dollar contract to upgrade one of Pakistan Air Force's Il-78 aerial refueling tanker aircraft.[6] The aircraft was modernised by Ukroboronprom’s Nikolaev Aircraft Repair Plant and was delivered back to Pakistan by 4 February 2022.[5] Ukrspetsexport called this event an important stage of cooperation with Pakistani partners.[7]

In February 2021, UkrOboronProm signed contract worth US$85.6 million with Pakistani officials to repair T-80UD main battle tanks of Pakistan army.[8] The newly signed contract was also a sign of relief for Malyshev Factory as the enterprise was suffering from debt worth US$67 million since the start of the year 2021.[4]

Pakistan sent humanitarian aid to help the people of Ukraine affected by Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Pakistan Air Force C-130 Hercules aircraft were flown to Poland where the aid was dispatched to help Ukrainian civilians.[9][10][11][12]

Pakistan also supports Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity.[3] Pakistan has been largely consistent in abstaining on UN resolutions on Russia, and has avoided criticising Moscow.[13]

During the war, United Kingdom purchased an unspecified number of 122mm howitzer projectiles from Pakistan, which were later supplied by United Kingdom to Ukraine.[14][15] Over the course of 15 days (6-21 August), the UK RAF conducted a dozen C-17 Globemaster III flights from Romania (Cluj International Airport) or the UK base at Episkopi in Cyprus to Pakistan Air Force Base Nur Khan.

These almost daily flights prompted some observers to conclude that the UK had established an air bridge between Romania and Pakistan, so that 122mm artillery ammunition manufactured by Pakistan Ordnance Factories (POF) could be shipped to Ukraine.

Evidence emerged on 30 August via social media to confirm that the Ukrainian military has successfully received Pakistani 122mm rounds.

The Pakistani MoD did not respond to requests to comment and given the sensitivity of this matter and security considerations, the UK MoD is not allowed to disclose details of specific shipments. While the Ukraine-UK-Pakistan cooperation seems unexpected, especially given that Pakistan vowed to remain neutral in the face of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the three countries share significant bilateral ties.[16]

• Pakistanis in Ukraine
• Foreign relations of Pakistan
• Foreign relations of Ukraine
• Al-Khalid MBT - A Pakistani Tank with Ukrainian equipment
• List of foreign aid to Ukraine during the Russo-Ukrainian War

• Pakistani embassy in Kyiv
• Ukrainian embassy in Islamabad

• [Saad Saud. "Ukraine to assist Pakistan in exploring natural resources: Envoy". Daily Mail (Pakistan). Archived from the original on February 2, 2010.