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On historic visit, Modi meets Zelensky with hug and handshake amid Russia-Ukraine war
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on a historic visit to Ukraine, will hold talks with President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv on Friday during his historic visit to the war-torn nation. The two leaders shook hands and exchanged a warm hug at the entrance of the Martyrologist Exposition at the Ukraine National Museum, before a planned bilateral meeting at the Mariinsky presidential palace.
Zelensky posted a video on X and said, “Today in Kyiv, Prime Minister @NarendraModi and I honored the memory of the children whose lives were taken by Russian aggression. Children in every country deserve to live in safety. We must make this possible.”
Why is Modi's visit to Ukraine historic?
Modi became the first Indian prime minister to set foot in the country since the establishment of diplomatic relations between India and Ukraine over 30 years ago.
The visit comes at a critical juncture, as Modi is expected to advocate for a diplomatic resolution to the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia, which looks more elusive than ever following Ukraine's shock offensive into Russia's western Kursk region.
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Before arriving in Kyiv, Prime Minister Modi made a stop in Poland on Thursday, where he called for intensified diplomatic efforts to end the war.
"No problem can be resolved on a battlefield," Modi said ahead of his visit, adding that India supports "dialogue and diplomacy for restoration of peace and stability as soon as possible".
Despite India’s reluctance to condemn Russia’s invasion outright, Modi has consistently called for both Russia and Ukraine to resolve their differences through dialogue.
The prime minister's visit to Kyiv is seen in many quarters as a diplomatic balancing act as his trip to Russia triggered anguish among the Western countries.
Modi recently drew criticism from Zelensky for hugging Russian President Vladimir Putin during a visit to Moscow in July.
Zelensky described that meeting as a “huge disappointment and a devastating blow to peace efforts.”
Modi's arrival in Kyiv followed a nearly 10-hour train journey from Poland, where he was warmly greeted by members of the Indian community at the Hyatt Hotel. He then visited the Martyrologist Exposition at the Ukraine National Museum, where he met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
