Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to visit Ukraine on August 23, where he will meet with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. This visit marks the first time the Indian Prime Minister will be in Ukraine since the country’s conflict with Russia began.
The visit comes shortly after PM Modi’s trip to Russia, where he met with President Vladimir Putin. Just a month prior, PM Modi had a meeting with President Zelenskyy on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in Italy. During this meeting, the two leaders discussed the ongoing situation in Ukraine, with Modi emphasizing the importance of “dialogue and diplomacy.” He reiterated India’s commitment to supporting a peaceful resolution, as stated in the official summary of the meeting.
In addition to these interactions, there have been several high-level exchanges between Indian and Ukrainian officials. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, along with National Security Advisors Ajit Doval and Andriy Yermak, have held telephonic discussions. Jaishankar later shared on social media that these talks focused on “further developing our bilateral relationship.”
This upcoming visit follows a pattern of international engagement, as many global leaders have traveled to Ukraine amidst the conflict. US President Joe Biden, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau are among those who have visited Kyiv. Due to the closure of Ukrainian airspace, these leaders, including Modi, have been traveling via Poland. It is anticipated that Modi might also meet with Polish leadership, including Prime Minister Donald Tusk, ahead of his Ukraine visit.
PM Modi’s trip signifies India’s continued diplomatic engagement with both sides of the conflict and its support for a peaceful resolution.