New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to visit Kyiv (capital of Ukraine) for about seven hours this week. On Monday, India announced that it is prepared to offer any assistance needed to facilitate the resolution of the Russia-Ukraine dispute peacefully.
PM Modi becomes the first Indian Prime leader to visit Ukraine since the established diplomatic relations b/w both the nations.
In announcing PM Modi’s August 23 visit, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) described it as a “landmark and historic” visit—the first by an Indian prime leader to Ukraine since the two nations’ diplomatic relations were established more than 30 years ago.
It will take the prime minister around ten hours by train to get from Poland to Kyiv. According to those with knowledge of the situation, the return trip will take the same amount of time.
Several international figures, such as US President Joe Biden, also took the train from the Polish train station close to the Ukrainian border to Kyiv.
On August 21 and 22, Prime Minister Modi will visit Poland for two days before to his trip to Ukraine.
The prime minister Ukraine visit is planned amidst new military invasion by Kyiv into Russian territory.
Weeks after his well-publicized visit to Moscow, which drew condemnation from the US and a few of its Western friends, PM Modi is visiting Kyiv.
AGENDA BEHIND PM MODI’s VISIT TO UKRAINE
At a press briefing, Tanmaya Lal, Secretary (West) in the MEA, stated, “India has substantive and independent ties with both Russia and Ukraine and these partnerships stand on their own.”
According to him, the visit will strengthen the ongoing relationship between India and Ukraine.
“Let me clarify that this is not a game with a zero-sum outcome. Additionally, the prime minister had visited Russia. There was much discussion of ideas,” Lal claimed.
“The prime minister also met President Zelenskyy on a couple of occasions in the last one year or so and they will now be meeting again in Ukraine,” he stated.
“I would like to say that these are independent broad ties and of course the ongoing conflict will form part of the discussions,” he stated.
When asked about the situation in Ukraine, Lal responded, “India is willing to provide all possible support and contribution required to help find peaceful solutions to this complex issue.” However, he declined to predict or make any assumptions about how PM Modi and Mr. Zelenskyy would negotiate.
“India has maintained a very clear and consistent position that diplomacy and dialogue can resolve this conflict which can lead to enduring peace,” Lal stated.
Thus, conversation is crucial. Only a negotiated settlement—which requires the agreement of both the parties—can bring about permanent peace. India is still in communication with all parties involved,” he stated.
Lal added that India has always pushed for talks and diplomacy in order to find a peaceful solution to the conflict in Ukraine.
“According to Prime Minister Modi, now is not the moment for war. There are no answers to problems on the battlefield. We think that a great number of nations hold the same opinion as India.
He stated that India and Ukraine had “continuous and long-standing” relationships.
“It is a landmark and historic visit since this will be the first time that an Indian prime minister will be visiting Ukraine in more than 30 years since the diplomatic relations were established between the two countries,” Lal stated.
He stated that the full spectrum of India-Ukraine relations, including those in the fields of infrastructure, agriculture, pharmaceuticals, health and education, defense, and people-to-people relations, is anticipated to be covered by the Modi-Zelenskyy talks.
In response to a question about India’s involvement in helping rebuild Ukraine, Lal stated that New Delhi is prepared to offer any assistance and contribution needed to both find a peaceful end to the conflict and aid in the reconstruction process.
MODI- ZELENSKYY PREVIOUS MEET
In June, PM Modi spoke with Mr. Zelenskyy in Apulia, Italy, during the G7 summit.
During the discussion, Prime Minister Modi informed the President of Ukraine that “dialogue and diplomacy” are the paths to peace and that India would keep using all of its resources to promote a peaceful resolution to the conflict in Ukraine.
Additionally, Prime Minister Modi informed Mr. Zelenskyy that India favors a “human-centric” strategy to resolve the Ukrainian crisis.