India Will Support Peaceful Solution to Russia-Ukraine Conflict: PM Modi’s Kyiv Visit

GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 20th August. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to visit Kyiv this week, marking the first trip by an Indian prime minister to Ukraine since diplomatic ties were established over 30 years ago.

During the nearly seven-hour visit on August 23, India has expressed its willingness to provide all possible support to help find a peaceful resolution to the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, according to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).

PM Modi’s visit follows a two-day trip to Poland on August 21-22 and comes amidst Ukraine’s renewed military offensive into Russian territory. The prime minister will travel to Kyiv by train from Poland, a journey that will take approximately 10 hours each way. This visit is seen as a significant diplomatic engagement for India, which maintains substantive and independent relationships with both Russia and Ukraine.

Tanmaya Lal, Secretary (West) in the MEA, emphasized that India’s ties with Russia and Ukraine are independent and that the ongoing conflict will be a key topic of discussion between PM Modi and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

“India has maintained a clear and consistent position that diplomacy and dialogue can resolve this conflict, leading to lasting peace,” Lal said, reiterating PM Modi’s stance that “this is not the time for war.”

The Modi-Zelenskyy talks are expected to cover a broad range of topics, including agriculture, infrastructure, pharmaceuticals, health, education, and defense. India has also expressed its readiness to contribute to Ukraine’s reconstruction and recovery efforts.

This visit follows PM Modi’s discussions with President Zelenskyy in June at the G7 summit in Italy, where India affirmed its commitment to supporting a peaceful solution to the Ukraine conflict through dialogue and diplomacy.