Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Kyiv on Friday for talks with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, marking the first visit by an Indian prime minister to Ukraine since it became independent in 1991.
PM Modi arrived in the Ukrainian capital after concluding his two-day trip to Poland during which he held wide-ranging talks with the Polish leadership. The prime minister travelled to Kyiv from Poland in a ‘Rail Force One’ train that took around 10 hours.
⚡ Indian PM Modi arrived in Kyiv for the first time in the history of Ukraine-India bilateral relations.: Ukrzaliznytsia / Instagram pic.twitter.com/N1lBzOy06P
— UNITED24 Media (@United24media) August 23, 2024
‘Excited to meet PM Modi’
Upon arrival, Modi was greeted by members of the Indian diaspora who traveled from across the country for an opportunity to meet him. In one of the videos released by Ukrainian media, Modi was seen warmly greeting the Indian community.
Indian Prime Minister Modi has arrived in Ukraine, marking the first visit by an Indian PM since Ukraine gained independence in 1991. He is scheduled to meet President Zelensky. Officially, the visit aims to “strengthen economic ties.” pic.twitter.com/N3PVoSFG5D— KyivPost (@KyivPost) August 23, 2024
“We are excited about PM Modi’s arrival here. The government of India has been helping Indian students here since the time of Operation Ganga,” said one Indian student. “We are very excited to meet PM Modi. We have the opportunity to see him and, if possible, talk to him,” said another student.
#WATCH | Indian students await the arrival of PM Narendra Modi’s arrival in Kyiv, Ukraine
An Indian student says, “We are excited about PM Modi’s arrival here. The government of India has been helping Indian students here since the time of Operation Ganga.”“We are very excited… pic.twitter.com/fhQClOZ6cX
— ANI (@ANI) August 23, 2024
From Poland To Ukraine
Modi arrived here after a “productive” Poland visit. “This high-level Prime Ministerial visit after four decades will widen and deepen India-Poland relations,” External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said in a post on X.
PM @narendramodi concludes a productive visit to Poland, setting a new milestone in bilateral relations.This high-level Prime Ministerial visit after four decades will widen and deepen India-Poland relations. pic.twitter.com/393HDe4nYp
— Randhir Jaiswal (@MEAIndia) August 22, 2024
Talks With Zelenskyy
Modi, who is visiting Ukraine at the invitation of Zelenskyy, has said that he will share with the Ukrainian leader perspectives on peaceful resolution of the ongoing conflict.
“I look forward to the opportunity to … share perspectives on peaceful resolution of the ongoing Ukraine conflict,” Modi said before the trip. “As a friend and partner, we hope for an early return of peace and stability in the region.”
READ MORE: India Ready To Be Peacemaker, Not Picking A Side: Modi’s Big Message In Historic Ukraine Visit After Russia Trip
After Russia Visit
The visit, which follows a trip by Modi to Moscow in July, is important for Western-backed Kyiv, which has been trying to nurture diplomatic relations in the Global South in its efforts to secure a fair settlement to end the war.
Modi’s visit to Moscow last month coincided with a heavy Russian missile strike on Ukraine that hit a children’s hospital. India has not yet condemned the Russian invasion of Ukraine but has been consistently calling for resolution of the conflict through dialogue and diplomacy.
READ MORE: Why PM Modi’s 7-Hour Kyiv Visit After Russia Stop is A Diplomatic Coup for India
Kursk Offensive
Prime Minister Modi’s visit comes at a volatile juncture in the war in Ukraine, with Ukrainian forces still in Russia’s western Kursk region following their incursion on Aug. 6 and Russian troops grinding out slow but steady advances in Ukraine’s east.
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