Advocacy for peace, Modi’s top agenda in his maiden Ukraine visit

India will act like a bridge of peace between nations, said Prime Minister Narendra Modi after he arrived in Ukraine on Aug 23, six weeks after he visited Russia.

"As a friend and partner, we hope for an early return of peace and stability in the region." PM Modi said in a statement referring to escalating tensions between Ukraine and Russia after the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

"I look forward to the opportunity to build upon earlier conversations with President Zelenskyy on strengthening bilateral cooperation and share perspectives on peaceful resolution of the ongoing Ukraine conflict,” the statement added.

I am confident that the visit will serve as a natural continuation of extensive contacts with the two countries and help create the foundation for stronger and more vibrant relations in the years ahead, according to the statement .

Prior to this, PM Modi discussed ways to strengthen bilateral ties upon meeting Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk. Modi traveled by train from Poland to Ukraine. It is a high-security meeting, and PM Modi is accompanied by the National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, and S Jaishankar, Minister of External Affairs.

Modi is now among a select group of global leaders who have been hosted by both countries while they are at war. He is scheduled to meet the Ukrainian PM Volodymyr Zelenskyy, following his invitation to visit the conflict-hit nation.

Earlier Modi visited Russia to discuss the conflict-ridden situation between Russia and Ukraine. This is the first visit by an Indian PM to Ukraine. Randhir Jaiswal, Official Spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs on Aug 22 posted on the X that PM Modi's visit to Poland after four decades will widen and deepen India-Poland relations.

The UN secretary-general's office has expressed hope that the Indian PM's visit to Ukraine might bring up the possibility of putting an end to the war. Notably, Zelenskyy last month severely criticized Modi’s Moscow visit and expressed his dismay at Modi after he hugged “the world’s most bloody criminal in Moscow’.

But the Ukraine President is now welcoming Modi in Kyiv. The Indian PM is expected to reiterate the same message to Zelenskyy as he did to Putin this July that “no solution can be found on the battlefield”. Modi’s trips to Russia and Ukraine come before his highly anticipated visit to the USA in September for the UN General Assembly.

Modi-Zelenskyy meetings

An Indian PM is visiting Ukraine after at least three decades but Modi and Zelenskyy have met thrice in the last three years. They first met in June this year in Apulia on the sidelines of the G7 Summit, last year in Hiroshima on the margins of the G7 Summit, and in Glasgow on the sidelines of COP in 2021.

They have also spoken to each other on the phone multiple times since 2020. Earlier this March, the Foreign Minister of Ukraine, Dmytro Kuleba was in India.

Advocacy for peace will be Modi’s top agenda in his maiden Ukraine visit. The government has made it clear that it stands for diplomacy and dialogue to reach a negotiated settlement for enduring peace. The government in an official briefing this week said India has substantive and independent ties with Russia and Ukraine.