New Delhi: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to visit Ukraine, marking his first trip to the war-torn nation since the conflict with Russia began. The visit comes about a month after Modi’s meeting with President Vladimir Putin in Moscow. The Indian foreign ministry announced the trip on Monday, noting that details will be shared later in the day. Modi is also scheduled to visit Poland, with reports suggesting the visits may occur from August 21 to 23.
International Political Analysts believe Modi’s Kyiv visit aims to address the fallout from his Moscow trip, which coincided with a deadly attack on a children’s hospital in the Ukrainian capital. The timing of the Moscow visit drew criticism from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and prompted Modi to deliver a public rebuke to Putin, describing the deaths of innocent children as “painful and terrifying” and urging a resolution through dialogue rather than combat.
Modi’s visit to Moscow on July 8-9 focused on enhancing bilateral trade and cooperation in nuclear energy and medicine. However, it was overshadowed by the Kyiv hospital strike, leading Modi to call for peace through diplomacy. His visit coincided with the NATO summit in Washington, where the alliance took steps to support Ukraine and counter Russia.
Following the summit, the U.S. expressed concerns about India’s ties with Russia but acknowledged India’s potential role in encouraging Putin to end the conflict. Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar has engaged in regular discussions with Ukrainian officials, including a call to Ukraine’s Dmytro Kuleba to strengthen bilateral relations.
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Modi previously met Zelenskiy at the Group of Seven summit in Italy in June, where they discussed expanding trade and cooperation. Ukraine has sought Indian investment for its reconstruction efforts, inviting Indian companies to contribute at a January business summit in India.
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India has traditionally maintained strong economic and defense relations with Russia and has avoided direct criticism of the invasion, citing its national interests in increasing Russian oil purchases. While there have been discussions about India’s potential role in mediating the conflict, New Delhi has remained cautious, emphasizing its willingness to support peaceful resolutions without explicitly mediating.
