Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is on a two-day trip to Poland, raised the pitch for reform in the United Nations and other international institutions to face global challenges.

Addressing a joint press briefing with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk in Warsaw on Thursday, PM Modi said, "India and Poland have also been moving forward in close coordination on the international stage."

"We both agree that reform in the United Nations and other international institutions is the need of the hour to face global challenges," he said.

The Prime Minister's remark comes a day ahead of his visit to Ukraine, which is engaged in a war with India's close ally Russia since February 2022.

Speaking about the Ukraine war, PM Modi said, "The ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and West Asia are a matter of deep concern for all of us. India firmly believes that no problem can be solved on the battlefield."

"The loss of lives of innocent people in any crisis has become the biggest challenge for entire humanity. We support dialogue and diplomacy for the early restoration of peace and stability," he added.

PM Modi will arrive in Ukraine on August 23. He will be the first Indian Prime Minister to visit Ukraine since the establishment of bilateral relations between the two countries.

Last month, PM Modi visited Russia after his re-election. The visit and his bonhomie with Russian President Vladimir Putin was criticised by the West, calling on the Indian Prime Minister to condemn Moscow's aggression in Ukraine.

The PM's visit to Ukraine is being seen as New Delhi's balancing act in the ongoing conflict.

India has maintained a neutral stance on the Ukraine war despite having historical friendly ties with Russia.

While India did not condemn Russia's invasion of Ukraine and has abstained from voting against Moscow in the UN, it has advocated for a peaceful resolution of the conflict.

Source: India Today