Modi to visit Ukraine, first since 2022 Russia invasion
What's the story
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Ukraine in the coming days, the Ministry on External Affairs confirmed on Monday. According to Reuters, the ministry will release details about the trip later in the day. This is Modi's first trip to Ukraine since Russia's invasion in 2022, and it comes two months after he met with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the G7 Summit in Italy.
Poland
Modi to make a stop in Poland
PM Modi will also pay a one-day state visit to Poland on August 21 before traveling to Ukraine. This visit aims to enhance ties with the European Union country. The last time an Indian prime minister visited the country was in 1979 by Morarji Desai. Before that, Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi had visited the country.
Peace efforts
Modi reiterates India's support for peaceful resolution
Details of the meeting are under wraps, but Andriy Yermak, chief of staff for the Ukrainian president last month, said Modi could play a crucial role in achieving peace. When Modi and Zelensky met on the sidelines of the G7 summit, Modi said India would continue to do everything within its means to support a peaceful solution to the Ukraine conflict. At the same time, he reiterated that India believes that the way to peace is through dialogue and diplomacy.
Diplomacy
Dialogue and diplomacy is the way forward: Modi
Since the war began, India has maintained that it can only be ended via negotiation and diplomacy. Modi had also visited Moscow for two days in July. During his discussion with President Vladimir Putin, Modi highlighted that dialogue is the best approach to resolving the ongoing crisis. "India has always called for respecting the United Nations Charter, including territorial integrity and sovereignty. There is no solution on the battlefield. Dialogue and diplomacy is the way forward," Modi stated.
Zelenskyy
Zelenskyy criticized Modi's meeting with Putin
At the time, Zelenskyy criticized Modi's meeting with Putin, calling it a "huge disappointment and a devastating blow to peace efforts." "It is disheartening to see the leader of the world's largest democracy embrace the world's most notorious criminal in Moscow," Zelenskyy wrote on social media. In response, India summoned the Ukrainian ambassador to discuss Zelenskyy's words. India also postponed a meeting of the joint working group on culture with Ukraine in light of the event, the Economic Times reported.