PM MODI LIKELY TO VISIT KYIV IN AUGUST, FIRST TRIP SINCE RUSSIA-UKRAINE WAR BEGAN: REPORTS
PM Modi Ukraine Visit: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to visit Kyiv in August, marking his first trip to Ukraine since the Russia-Ukraine war began in 2022. The visit is planned for the third week of August, around Ukraine's Independence Day. The visit, still in the planning stages, follows an invitation extended by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky during a telephone conversation earlier this year when PM Modi secured a third term in the recent Lok Sabha elections.
PM Modi's expected visit to Kyiv follows his recent two-day trip to Russia for the annual summit, where he discussed various issues including the ongoing war in Ukraine with President Vladimir Putin.
Recent months have seen diplomatic exchanges between India and Ukraine. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, along with National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and his Ukrainian counterpart Andriy Yermak, have held discussions aimed at strengthening bilateral relations. Following the meeting, Jaishankar had said that the talks focused on further developing the partnership between the two countries.
PM Modi met with President Zelensky in June at the G7 summit in Italy, where they discussed the ongoing conflict. Modi reiterated India's commitment to supporting a peaceful resolution through dialogue and diplomacy. This upcoming visit will be Modi's second face-to-face meeting with Zelensky since the war began, following their first meeting at the G7 summit in Japan last year.
Leaders from Western countries, including US President Joe Biden, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, have visited Kyiv since the conflict began. Asian leaders who have traveled to Ukraine include Indonesian President Joko Widodo and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, who visited in March 2023.
It is anticipated that Modi will travel to Ukraine via Poland, as airspace over Ukraine is currently closed. During his trip, Modi is also expected to meet with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk.