Foreign Minister Arzu Rana Deuba held a bilateral meeting with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sibiga in New Delhi on Tuesday. The meeting was held on the sidelines of the Raisina Dialogue organised by India’s Ministry of External Affairs.

During the discussions, Deuba clarified that Nepal does not permit its citizens to enlist in the Russian military and urged Ukraine to swiftly release seven Nepali nationals currently held as prisoners of war, the foreign minister's secretariat said.

The youths reportedly recruited into the Russian army, due to temptation and false promises, were later captured by Ukrainian forces.

Minister Sibiga assured that Ukraine would follow legal procedures to secure their release. Additionally, Deuba sought Ukraine’s support for Nepal’s candidacy for the UN Human Rights Council for the 2027–2029 term.

In a separate development, Nepal and Ukraine signed an agreement to grant visa-free entry to holders of diplomatic and official passports, the foreign minister's secretariat said.