Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to visit Ukraine on August 23, according to a report in India Today. This visit will mark the first time the Prime Minister will be traveling to Ukraine since the war with Russia began. During the visit, PM Modi is expected to meet with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
The trip comes just days after PM Modi’s two-day visit to Moscow, where he met with Russian President Vladimir Putin on July 8-9, 2024. The meeting was part of the 22nd India-Russia Annual Summit, at which Putin invited Modi to attend.
Zelenskyy had reacted sharply to Modi’s Russia visit and meeting with Putin, referencing Russia’s attack on a children’s hospital in Kyiv on the same day. The attack resulted in the deaths of 37 people, including three children, and injured 170 others, including 13 children. In a post on X, Zelenskyy expressed outrage, stating that the attack targeted young cancer patients and resulted in many being buried under the rubble.
During his visit to Moscow, PM Modi was awarded Russia’s highest civilian honor, the Order of St. Andrew the Apostle, by Putin for his exceptional contributions to promoting bilateral ties between India and Russia. Putin emphasized that the award signifies Russia’s sincere gratitude for Modi’s ‘significant contribution’ to strengthening ties between the two nations.
Putin highlighted Modi’s consistent advocacy for broader contacts with Russia, noting that even as Chief Minister of Gujarat, Modi had initiated twinning programs between Gujarat and Russian regions.
Prior to this upcoming visit, PM Modi last met with Zelenskyy in June on the sidelines of the G-7 summit in Italy’s Apulia region. The meeting focused on reviewing bilateral ties and exchanging perspectives on the situation in Ukraine. PM Modi described the meeting as productive.
Since the commencement of the Russia-Ukraine war, India has consistently maintained that the conflict should be resolved through dialogue and diplomacy. The upcoming visit to Ukraine will be closely watched as India navigates its relationship with both Russia and Ukraine amidst the ongoing conflict.
