New Delhi/Warsaw: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday arrived in Warsaw, Poland’s capital, on the first leg of his two-nation visit when he will also travel to Ukraine’s capital Kyiv on Friday and hold talks with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
During his two-day stay in Poland, Modi will meet President Andrzej Sebastian Duda and hold bilateral talks with Prime Minister Donald Tusk. During the visit to Ukraine that is expected to take place amidst tight security on Friday, Modi said he would “share perspectives on peaceful resolution of the ongoing Ukraine conflict” with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. He added that “as a friend and partner, we hope for an early return of peace and stability in the region”.
In his departure statement in New Delhi, Modi said: “Poland is a key economic partner in Central Europe. Our mutual commitment to democracy and pluralism further reinforces our relationship. I look forward to meeting my friend Prime Minister Donald Tusk and President Andrzej Duda to further advance our partnership. I will also engage with the members of the vibrant Indian community in Poland.”
He added: “From Poland, I will be visiting Ukraine at the invitation of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. This is the first-ever visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Ukraine. I look forward to the opportunity to build upon earlier conversations with President Zelenskyy on strengthening bilateral cooperation.”
Modi further said: “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.”
Modi will be in Kyiv for around seven hours on Friday, August 23, in the first visit by an Indian PM to Ukraine since the country became independent in 1991. The PM will travel to Kyiv from Poland in a “Rail Force One” train that will take around 10 hours. The return trip will also be of the same duration.
A number of world leaders, including US President Joe Biden, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, have visited Kyiv by train after the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
Modi’s visit to Kyiv comes nearly six weeks after his high-profile trip to Moscow which triggered criticism from the United States and some of its Western allies. India has not yet condemned the Russian invasion of Ukraine and has been calling for a resolution of the conflict through dialogue and diplomacy.
The external affairs ministry has said Modi’s Ukraine visit will be a “landmark and historic” one.
