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A sombre Prime Minister Narendra Modi met an equally stoic Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv during his brief but historic visit to Ukraine on Friday. The two leaders shook hands before PM Modi engulfed the Ukrainian President in a hug. As the duo toured the war-torn country's Martyrologist Exposition, the Indian leader's hand remained firmly on Zelenskyy's shoulder -- a symbolic gesture of India's solidarity with Ukraine.
Narendra Modi is the first Indian Prime Minister to visit Ukraine since it got independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. The visit, during which PM Modi will hold talks with Zelenskyy, follows his trip to Russia last month.
At that time, Zelenskyy had reacted sharply to convivial photos of the Prime Minister and Russian President Vladimir Putin, terming their hug upon meeting "a huge disappointment and a devastating blow to peace efforts".
PM Modi arrived around 7:30 am (local time to Kyiv) and came to the hotel around 7:55 am (local time). The Prime Minister was welcomed with the chants of ‘Bharat Mata ki Jai’ by the Indian diaspora after his arrival in Kyiv. He shared some pictures after he was accorded a very warm welcome in Kyiv.
In Kyiv, PM Modi paid floral tributes at a Mahatma Gandhi statue. He reiterated India's position on global conflicts, calling for unity and cooperation to address the challenges facing humanity. Making a strong appeal for peace, he stated, "India's stance is very clear — this is not an era of war. This is a time to come together to tackle the challenges that pose a threat to humanity."
According to the Ministry of External Affairs, the Prime Minister’s engagements in Kyiv will touch a range of aspects of bilateral ties including political, trade, economic, investments, education, cultural, people-to-people exchanges, humanitarian assistance and others.
"Lasting peace can only be achieved through options that are acceptable to both parties. And it can only be a negotiated settlement," said Tanmaya Lal, Secretary (West) in the MEA. "It's not a zero-sum game."
PM Modi's visit to Ukraine comes nearly six weeks after his high-profile trip to Moscow, during which he held extensive talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin on ending the ongoing conflict. 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.
Ukraine wasn’t too happy with the visit either. They criticised him for meeting President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on the same day a Russian strike hit a children's hospital in Kyiv, killing dozens.
According to Skand Ranjan Tayal, former Indian ambassador to Russia, thinks Modi will likely reassure Zelenskyy that India hasn’t taken his previous criticism to heart."He (Modi) is likely to convey the message that India is ready to walk the path of friendship and cooperation with the people of Ukraine.
In June this year, PM Modi met Ukranian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Italy. During the meeting, PM Modi emphasised that India would continue to do everything within its means to support a peaceful solution to the Ukraine conflict and that the way to peace is through "dialogue and diplomacy".
India has maintained a neutral stance on the Ukraine war despite having historically friendly ties with Russia. After the war broke out, India ensured it maintained friendly ties with both nations.
This included continuing trade with Russia despite the Western sanctions on Moscow. The trade not only helped the Russian economy stay afloat, but was also beneficial for New Delhi as they imported crude oil at a heavy discount. On the Ukrainian front, India extended its help by providing essential medicines and support.
PM Modi is in Kyiv for around seven hours, during which the prime minister is set to have one-on-one as well as delegation-level talks with Zelenskyy.
