Modi, India's leader, touches down in Ukraine for discussions with Zelensky, following his encounter with Putin by several weeks.
Ukrainian politician Oleksiy Honcharenko confirmed Modi's arrival in a Telegram post on Friday.
Modi's journey, which marks the initial visit by an Indian leader since Ukraine's independence, follows hot on the heels of his trip to Moscow in early May, during his inaugural overseas journey as leader, where he engaged in talks with President Vladimir Putin. These discussions were subject to criticism from Kyiv.
Preceding Modi's arrival, which falls a day before Ukraine's independence day celebrations, was his two-day stint in Poland. During a conference in Warsaw, Modi reiterated India's stance on conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, advocating for dialogue and diplomacy to bring about peace.
Speaking alongside Polish counterpart Donald Tusk, Modi emphasized India's commitment to promoting peace and stability. Tusk lauded Modi's efforts to seek an expeditious and fair resolution to the Ukraine conflict.
New Delhi has consistently urged for a ceasefire and peace in Ukraine, despite abstaining from condemning Russia's military invasion due to its reliance on Russia as a significant arms supplier and strategic partner. In response to international sanctions against Moscow, India has boosted its oil purchases from Russia.
According to Reuters, India surpassed China to become the world's biggest importer of Russian oil last month, owing to increased crude oil purchases from Russia.
Pivotal moment
Modi's trip to Ukraine arrives at a crucial juncture in the two-and-a-half-year conflict. Recently, Ukrainian forces initiated an unparalleled offensive into Russian territory, forcing Moscow to respond. Kyiv is actively working to garner global support for its peace plan, which primarily focuses on the withdrawal of Russian troops from occupied territories.
The forthcoming US presidential election has given rise to concerns regarding potential withdrawal of American support for Kyiv if Republican candidate Donald Trump, who has been critical of NATO and Ukraine, secures victory.
Throughout the conflict, Ukraine has endeavored to persuade close allies of Russia, such as India and China, to exert influence on Putin to accept Kyiv's terms for peace. Although India participated in a Kyiv-supported peace conference in Switzerland in June, it steered clear of endorsing the event's communique.
During his visit to Ukraine, Modi is anticipated to discuss various aspects of bilateral relations with Zelensky, including trade, infrastructure, and defense.
In the words of India's Foreign Ministry's secretary for the West, Tanmaya Lal, the forthcoming dialogue between the leaders will also delve into the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. The Ukrainian presidential office has announced that Modi and Zelensky will address bilateral and multilateral cooperation concerns, and that several agreements will be signed.
Trade relations between the two nations have seen a decline during the conflict, as per Ukrainian annual data. In recent months, both sides have expressed interest in restoring trade, with Modi and Zelensky meeting on multiple occasions since the onset of the war, including at a G7 summit in June.
Zelensky criticized Modi's meeting with Putin last month, which coincided with a Russian assault on several Ukrainian cities and a deadly strike on a children's hospital. Zelensky described this encounter as a “major disappointment and a devastating blow to peace efforts,” likening Modi to a “world's largest democracy leader embracing the world’s bloodiest criminal.”
Modi did not address the strikes directly at the time but urged for a “peaceful resolution to the conflict.” He also underscored the need for dialogue to bring about peace.
This is an evolving story and will be updated.
CNN's Aishwarya S Iyer, Esha Mitra, and Alex Stambaugh contributed to this report.
Modi's visit to Ukraine is significant, as it marks the first trip by an Indian leader to Europe since Ukraine's independence. This trip comes at a pivotal moment in the two-and-a-half-year conflict, with Ukraine actively seeking global support for its peace plan and a possible withdrawal of American support for Kyiv if Republican candidate Donald Trump wins the US presidential election.
