In a landmark diplomatic move, Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Ukraine, marking the first-ever visit by an Indian prime minister to the war-torn nation. As PM Modi met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the Martyrologist Exposition in Kyiv, the two leaders shared a warm hug and a handshake, symbolizing India’s commitment to fostering peace in the region.
The visit comes at a crucial time, with PM Modi scheduled to engage in both one-on-one and delegation-level talks with President Zelensky. The primary focus of these discussions is to explore ways to negotiate a peaceful resolution to the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict. The visit follows Modi’s high-profile trip to Russia six weeks ago, where he held extensive talks with President Vladimir Putin, primarily focused on ending the conflict.
PM Modi last met President Zelensky in June during the G7 summit in Apulia, Italy, where he expressed India’s commitment to supporting a peaceful resolution through “dialogue and diplomacy.” He also emphasized India’s belief in a “human-centric” approach to solving the conflict. During that meeting, Zelensky invited PM Modi to visit Kyiv.
Earlier on Thursday, PM Modi also met with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, where he reiterated that the conflicts in Ukraine and West Asia are matters of “deep concern.” He stressed that “dialogue and diplomacy” remain the only viable solutions to restoring peace, reaffirming India’s stance that no conflict can be resolved on the battlefield. He emphasized that the loss of innocent lives poses one of the greatest challenges to humanity.
