India and Ukraine Consider Prime Minister Modi’s Visit to Kyiv Amid Renewed Peace Efforts
New Delhi: India and Ukraine are exploring the potential for a visit by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Kyiv next month, according to multiple diplomatic sources. The proposed visit could coincide with Ukraine’s National Day on August 24, with a subsequent trip to Poland also under consideration.
Modi’s visit to Kyiv would mark a significant diplomatic engagement as global efforts intensify to address the ongoing conflict in eastern Europe. The prime minister had previously met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in Apulia, Italy, on June 14. During that meeting, Modi reiterated India’s commitment to supporting a peaceful resolution to the Russia-Ukraine conflict, emphasizing that dialogue and diplomacy are crucial for achieving peace.
If finalized, Modi’s visit to Poland would be notable as it would be the first such visit by an Indian prime minister to the country in over forty years. However, there is no official confirmation yet from either the Indian or Ukrainian governments regarding the trip.
The visit’s schedule could begin around August 23-24, but preparations for the trip are still ongoing, with logistical arrangements and other details yet to be finalized.
In recent international engagements, Modi visited Russia on July 8-9, a trip that drew criticism from the United States and some Western countries. India, however, defended the visit, asserting that countries have the freedom to pursue their diplomatic agendas in a multipolar world.
During his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Modi underscored that a resolution to the Ukraine conflict cannot be achieved through military means alone, stressing the necessity of peace talks free from the pressures of ongoing violence.
