Prime Minister Narendra Modi To Visit Ukraine Amidst Ongoing Russia-Ukraine Conflict
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to visit Kyiv in August, marking his first trip to the war-torn country since the Russia-Ukraine war began in 2022.
The visit, anticipated to take place in the third week of August, is tentatively scheduled for August 23, according to sources within Delhi’s diplomatic circles.
This visit follows an invitation extended by Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky during a phone conversation earlier this year.
In recent weeks, high-level exchanges between India and Ukraine have intensified. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, as well as National Security Advisors Ajit Doval and Andriy Yermak, have engaged in telephonic discussions.
Modi and Zelensky last met in June in Italy on the sidelines of the G7 summit, where they discussed the situation in Ukraine. Modi emphasized the importance of “dialogue and diplomacy,” reiterating India’s commitment to supporting a peaceful resolution.
This upcoming visit will be their second in-person meeting since the war began, following their initial encounter last year at the G7 meeting in Japan.
Given the closure of airspace over Ukraine, Modi is expected to travel via Poland, similar to other world leaders. It is likely he will meet with Polish leaders, including Prime Minister Donald Tusk, before proceeding to Ukraine.
Numerous Western leaders, including U.S. President Joe Biden, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, have visited Kyiv since the conflict started.
Asian leaders, such as Indonesian President Joko Widodo and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, have also made visits, with Kishida traveling to Kyiv in March 2023 after a stop in Delhi.
Modi’s Recent Russia Visit
Modi’s upcoming trip to Ukraine follows closely on the heels of his visit to Russia two months ago for the annual Russia summit, his first in five years. The summit’s discussions prominently featured the ongoing war in Ukraine.
India’s relationship with Russia is historically significant, with strong ties in defense, space, education, and multilateral cooperation through organizations like the UN and BRICS. Modi is also expected to visit Kazan, Russia, in October for the BRICS summit.