Prime Minister Narendra Modi is going on a visit to Poland and Ukraine tomorrow. He will first go to Poland where he will stay on 21 and 22 August. After this, he will visit Ukraine on 23 August. This is the first time that an Indian Prime Minister is going on a visit to Ukraine. Diplomatic relations between Kiev and New Delhi were established 30 years ago i.e. in 1994. This visit of PM Modi is taking place at a time when the war between Ukraine and Russia has intensified.
On 20 February, this war will complete three years. Meanwhile, Ukraine has angered Russian President Putin by attacking Kursk in Russia. Earlier, PM Modi had reached Russia on 8 July last month. On the same day, Russia had launched a series of attacks on Ukraine, which also targeted a children’s hospital. On that day, 39 people, including many children, died. An angry Zelensky had said that it is very disappointing that the leader of the world’s largest democracy is hugging the biggest criminal in Moscow.
He hugged Putin just a few days ago
On the other hand, PM Modi had fearlessly raised the issue of children’s death in front of President Putin. Now Prime Minister Modi is going to Kiev on the invitation of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Before this, he will go to Poland. With this, an Indian Prime Minister will visit Poland after 45 years. Before him, Morarji Desai had visited Poland in 1979. This visit is taking place at a time when India-Poland are celebrating the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations.
Modi-Zelensky will meet for the fourth time
It is worth noting that on August 23, PM Modi is going to meet Zelensky for the fourth time. Before this, PM Modi and Zelensky have met 3 times. The two leaders met for the first time in Glasgow during COP 2021. After this, Modi and Zelensky met on 20 May 2023 at the G7 Summit Hiroshima. Recently, during his third term, PM Modi made his first foreign trip. During that time also PM Modi met Ukraine President Zelensky. The leaders of both the countries met at the G7 Summit held in Italy on 14 June 2024. This will be the fourth time when PM Modi and Ukraine President Zelensky are going to meet. At the same time, let us also tell you that this meeting is going to be special in a sense. This will be the first official meeting of PM Modi and Zelensky. Earlier, the leaders of both the countries have met on other forums in some other country. Whereas this time PM Modi is going to Ukraine on the invitation of Zelensky.
Let us understand PM Modi’s Ukraine visit in 4 points, why is this visit so special and why the eyes of the world are focused on this visit of PM Modi to the war-torn country.
Why is PM’s Ukraine visit special?
1. The visit comes amid an escalation of the Russia-Ukraine war.
2. PM Modi met Putin in Moscow last month.
3. Ukraine hopes to get help in ceasefire.
4. Ukraine’s Flag Day is on August 23.
The whole world is looking at PM Modi’s Ukraine visit
Before Prime Minister Modi’s visit to Ukraine, Indians living there are hopeful that the ongoing war with Russia can be stopped. Prime Minister Modi can bring about a ceasefire. In such a situation, there is discussion about PM Modi’s visit to Ukraine not only in India but in many countries of the world. The biggest thing is that PM Modi was on a visit to Russia only last month and within just a few days of his visit to Russia, his visit to Ukraine has become a matter of discussion. In such a situation, the question is whether Russia will be angry with PM Modi’s visit to Ukraine, because at present Ukraine is Russia’s biggest enemy and in such a situation will Russia like PM Modi’s visit to Ukraine?
Let us tell you that this visit of PM Modi to Ukraine is happening at a time when there is news of the Ukrainian army occupying many areas of Russia. The Ukrainian army has entered inside the Russian border and intensified the attacks. You will remember when PM Modi visited Russia last month, during this time Russia attacked a hospital in Ukraine in which many Ukrainian citizens were killed, including many children. Then Ukraine’s President Vladimir Zelensky, targeting PM Modi’s visit to Russia and the picture of Modi-Putin hugging, said that today 37 people were killed in Russia’s missile attack, including three children. On such a day, the leader of the world’s largest democracy hugging the world’s bloodiest criminal in Moscow is a matter of disappointment for the efforts to establish peace.
Will Russia be upset with the Ukraine tour?
However, the biggest question in the meantime is whether Russia will be angry with PM Modi’s visit to Ukraine? Regarding this, experts believe that India did not express any displeasure even on Putin’s visit to China and regarding China-Russia relations, both Russia and India had said that the relations between India and Russia are different. This visit does not have any effect on the relations between India and Russia.
If we look at the last 25 years, there has been an increase in the trade relations between India and Ukraine. According to the Ministry of External Affairs of India, there was a trade of about $ 3.3 billion between the two countries in the financial year 2021 to 2022. At the same time, there was a trade of about $ 60 billion between Russia and India. In such a situation, it is expected that by the year 2030, there will be a trade of $ 100 billion between India and Russia.
‘We have our own relations with both Russia and Ukraine’
Regarding PM Modi’s visit to Ukraine, the Indian Foreign Ministry has said that India’s relations with both Russia and Ukraine are strong and independent, which have their own existence. This is not a matter of one’s benefit and the other’s loss. It is worth noting that India has been successful in maintaining a balance in its relations with both Russia and Ukraine. India never condemned the Russian attack on Ukraine nor supported the resolution brought against Russia in the United Nations. But India has always been sending humanitarian aid to Ukraine.
India gives importance to both the countries
When India hosted the G-20 summit in the year 2023, India did not invite Ukraine to participate in this summit. However, Russian President Vladimir Putin also did not attend this conference. That is, if seen, India gives as much importance to its oldest relationship with Russia as it gives to America and Western countries. In such a situation, PM Modi’s visit to Ukraine is also an example of maintaining balance in global diplomacy.
What is the complete schedule of PM Modi?
On Monday, India said in a statement, “We are ready to provide all possible help to find a peaceful solution between Russia and Ukraine.” The Ministry of External Affairs announced PM Modi’s visit on August 23 and said, “This will be a historic visit.” Before his visit to Ukraine, PM Modi will visit Poland for two days on August 21 and 22. He said that Prime Minister Modi will travel by train from Poland to Kiev, which will take about 10 hours. The return journey will also be of the same duration. Prime Minister Modi’s visit to Ukraine is taking place amid Kiev’s latest military attack on Russian territory.
PM Modi will reach Kiev by train
Earlier, many global leaders including US President Joe Biden also reached Kiev by train. These leaders travelled to Kiev by train from the Polish train station near the Ukrainian border. PM Modi’s visit to Kiev comes a few weeks after his high-profile visit to Moscow. At that time, the US and some of its Western allies had also criticized him.
Ukraine visit will advance continued engagement
Tanmay Lal, Secretary (West) in the Ministry of External Affairs, said in a media briefing, India has strong and independent relations with both Russia and Ukraine and these partnerships stand on their own. He said that this visit will further the continued engagement between India and Ukraine. Lal said, I would like to say that the purpose of this visit is not to gain one’s own benefit at the cost of others. The Prime Minister also visited Russia. Many ideas were discussed.
He said, the Prime Minister also met President Zelensky on a few occasions in the last one year and now they will meet again in Ukraine. He said, I would like to say that these are independent comprehensive relations and certainly the ongoing conflict will also be a part of the discussion.
India is ready to provide all possible help
When asked about the conflict in Ukraine, Lal said, India is ready to provide all possible assistance and contribution to help find a peaceful solution to this complex issue. At the same time, he refused to predict the outcome of the talks between Modi and Zelensky. Lal said, India has maintained a very clear and consistent stand that this conflict can be resolved through diplomacy and dialogue, which can lead to lasting peace.
He said, therefore dialogue is absolutely necessary. Lasting peace can be achieved only through options that are acceptable to both sides and only dialogue can lead to a solution. India continues to talk with all stakeholders.
India has been advocating diplomacy and dialogue
Lal also said that India has consistently advocated diplomacy and dialogue to reach a negotiated solution to the Ukraine conflict. Lal said, Prime Minister Modi said that this is not the time for war. Solutions cannot be found on the battlefield. This is a clear and consistent position that India has adopted and we believe that most countries share this view.
On India’s relations with Ukraine, he said that these relations are continuous and long-term. Lal said, this is a historic visit as this will be the first time in more than 30 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries that an Indian Prime Minister will visit Ukraine.
He said the Modi-Zelensky talks are expected to focus on the entire gamut of India-Ukraine relations, including agriculture, infrastructure, pharmaceuticals, health and education, defence and people-to-people ties.
Zelensky had invited PM Modi to visit Ukraine
Modi had a conversation with Zelensky on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Apulia, Italy in June. In the meeting, Modi told the Ukrainian President that India will continue to do everything within its means to support a peaceful resolution of the Ukraine conflict and that the path to peace is through dialogue and diplomacy. Modi also told Zelensky that India believes in a human-centric approach to finding a solution to the conflict in Ukraine. In the meeting, the Ukrainian President invited Prime Minister Modi to visit Kiev.