Two days ahead of his crucial visit to the Ukrainian capital Kyiv, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said he looks forward to sharing his views with President Volodymyr Zelensky on a peaceful resolution of the Ukraine conflict.
The Prime Minister’s remarks came shortly before he embarks on a two-nation visit to Poland and Ukraine. In the first leg of the visit, Prime Minister Modi will visit the Polish capital Warsaw on August 21 and 22.
Prime Minister Modi will be in Kiev for about seven hours on August 23. This will be the first visit of an Indian Prime Minister to Ukraine since Ukraine became independent in 1991.
In his departure statement, Prime Minister Modi referred to the Ukraine conflict and said that as a “friend and partner”, India hopes for an early return of peace and stability in the region.
He said, “From Poland I will travel to Ukraine at the invitation of President Volodymyr Zelensky. This is the first visit of an Indian Prime Minister to Ukraine.”
“I look forward to the opportunity to build on earlier discussions with President Zelenskyy to strengthen bilateral cooperation and share views on a peaceful resolution of the ongoing Ukrainian conflict,” he said.
“As a friend and partner, we hope for an early return of peace and stability to the region,” he said.
Prime Minister Modi said he was confident that his visit to Warsaw and Kyiv would “serve as a natural continuation of our extensive contacts with both countries and help lay the foundation for an even stronger and vibrant relationship in the years to come”.
The Prime Minister will travel from Poland to Kyiv by ‘Rail Force One’ train, which will take around 10 hours. The return journey will also be of the same length.
Several world leaders, including US President Joe Biden, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, visited Kyiv by train following the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Prime Minister Modi’s visit to Kyiv comes nearly six weeks after his high-profile visit to Moscow, which was criticised by the US and some of his Western allies.
India has not yet condemned the Russian aggression in Ukraine and is calling for a resolution of the conflict through dialogue and diplomacy.
During his summit talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow last month, Prime Minister Modi had said that the Ukraine conflict cannot be resolved on the battlefield and peace talks cannot succeed amid bombs and bullets.
Prime Minister Modi’s visit to Ukraine will be an “important and historic” visit, the Ministry of External Affairs said on Monday.
Tanmaya Lal, Secretary (West) in the Ministry of External Affairs, said, “Durable peace can only be achieved through options that are acceptable to both sides. And this can only be resolved through dialogue.”
He said, “On our part, India will continue to engage with all stakeholders.”
Regarding his visit to Poland, Prime Minister Modi said that he is looking forward to meeting Prime Minister Donald Tusk and President Andrzej Duda.
He said, “My visit to Poland is taking place at a time when we are completing 70 years of establishment of our diplomatic relations. Poland is a major economic partner in Central Europe.”
“Our mutual commitment to democracy and pluralism makes our relations stronger. I look forward to meeting my friends Prime Minister Donald Tusk and President Andrzej Duda to further advance our partnership,” he said.
“I will also interact with members of the vibrant Indian community in Poland,” Prime Minister Modi said.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
