Indian PM makes first-ever visit to Ukraine since 1991 independence
Photo: REUTERS/ Adnan Abidi
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has arrived in Ukraine for an official visit, making him the first Indian Prime Minister to visit the country since it gained independence in 1991.
The Times of India reports this.
The Indian politician arrived in Kyiv on the morning of August 23.
Several international media outlets were the first to report on the Indian prime minister's arrival. Additionally, a video of his motorcade driving through a main street in the Ukrainian capital has already been shared online.
#BREAKING: Prime Minister @narendramodi reaches Ukraine's Capital City of Kyiv on board the train Rail Force One. Indian diaspora welcomes PM Modi at Hotel Hyatt. Indian PM Narendra Modi becomes the first ever Indian PM to visit Ukraine. pic.twitter.com/85BmdWTBzj
— Aditya Raj Kaul (@AdityaRajKaul) August 23, 2024
In particular, The Times of India writes that Modi met with the Indian diaspora at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Kyiv.
It should be noted that this is the first visit of the head of the Indian government to Ukraine in the history of bilateral relations. Accordingly, Modi is in Kyiv for the first time since the beginning of the full-scale Russian-Ukrainian war. In addition, his arrival in Kyiv coincides with the National Flag Day of Ukraine – on the eve of Ukraine's Independence Day.
Before coming to Kyiv, he held negotiations in Poland, despite the fact that the Prime Minister of India's previous visit to Poland took place 45 years ago.
In Ukraine, according to Bloomberg, the visit of the head of the Indian government to Kyiv will be short. It is only a matter of a few hours due to the security situation.
Journalists found out the day before that the visit would not include any significant announcements, though there are plans for some agreements to be made. Specifically, in regards to:
- agriculture,
- defense.
India is currently the largest importer of equipment and weapons systems, and Modi wants to change this situation by stimulating domestic production of defense products.
In addition, Bloomberg learned that India had agreed to relay messages between President Volodymyr Zelensky and Russian dictator Vladimir Putin. However, Modi ruled out the possibility of becoming a mediator in ending the war.
At the same time, the Prime Minister of India himself, on the eve of the trip, called for the "restoration of peace" and announced that he would "share the prospects of ending Ukraine's war with Russia."
"This visit will be an opportunity to develop previous discussions and deepen Indian-Ukrainian friendship. We will also share prospects for a peaceful resolution of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. As a friend and partner, we hope for a quick restoration of peace and stability in the region," he wrote on the X social network before the visit.
It is known that Zelensky and Modi will hold talks during which they will discuss issues of bilateral and multilateral cooperation.
Before that, the parties last met in June in Italy, where the "Big Seven" summit was held. Then, the President of Ukraine congratulated the Prime Minister of India on his victory in the elections, and the leaders also discussed the development of bilateral relations.
In addition, several documents are expected to be signed between Ukraine and India.
The media has also reported that the Ukrainian state company "Zoria" – "Mashproekt" is in talks with Indian private companies about collaborating on producing gas turbines for military vessels.
The two countries also discussed India's production of aircraft and aircraft engines.
For reference:
It should be noted that Modi's July visit to Moscow took place shortly after Russian artillery shelling killed more than three dozen people in Ukraine and severely damaged a children's hospital in Kyiv. Then Modi came to Russia for the first time in 5 years.
Then Volodymyr Zelensky criticized Modi for meeting with Putin. According to the Ukrainian president, "seeing how the leader of the world's largest democracy embraces the world's bloodiest criminal in Moscow on such a day" is "a huge disappointment."
