Tanmaya Lal, secretary west of ministry of exterior affairs (MEA), mentioned, “PM Narendra Modi will undertake an official go to to Ukraine later this week on Friday, August 23, on the invitation of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.That is additionally a landmark and a historic go to since this would be the first time an Indian PM can be visiting Ukraine in additional than 30 years since we established our diplomatic relations. This go to will construct upon the current high-level interactions between the leaders.”
The MEA additional mentioned that India has all the time been advocating diplomacy and dialogue to resolve battle in Ukraine. “India has maintained a really clear and constant place that diplomacy and dialogue can resolve this battle and which may result in enduring peace, so dialogue is totally important. Lasting peace can solely be achieved by choices which can be acceptable to each events and it may well solely be a negotiated settlement. on our half, India continues to have interaction with all stakeholders,” he mentioned.
“Prime Minister Modi has had conversations with leaders of each Russia and Ukraine as and the PM additionally visited Russia, not too long ago. India is prepared to offer all potential assist and contribution required to assist discover peaceable options to this complicated concern and at this stage, it isn’t for us to anticipate or prejudge what the end result of those discussions can be between the leaders of India and Ukraine,” Lal added.
The go to comes following criticism from Kyiv over PM Modi’s embrace of Russian President Vladimir Putin in a current go to. The go to to Poland and Ukraine alerts PM Modi’s try to navigate India’s longstanding ties with Moscow alongside cultivating nearer relations with Western nations.
Whereas India has not specified the precise dates for PM Modi’s go to, the journey comes after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned PM Modi for hugging Putin throughout his go to to Moscow in July, which occurred simply after a Russian assault on a number of Ukrainian cities induced vital casualties and injury.
Modi’s authorities has constantly referred to as for peaceable dialogue to resolve the continued battle between Russia and Ukraine, avoiding direct condemnation of Russia’s actions. India and Russia share historic ties relationship again to the Chilly Conflict, a interval throughout which the Kremlin emerged as a serious arms provider to India.
Because the outbreak of the Ukraine battle, Russia has emerged as a vital provider of discounted crude oil to India. This has bolstered financial ties, serving to India save billions of {dollars} whereas additionally aiding Russia economically regardless of Western sanctions.
Western nations have inspired India to distance itself from Russia whereas searching for to strengthen their very own relations with New Delhi. India is a part of the Quad grouping with america, Japan, and Australia, which serves as a counterbalance to China’s rising affect within the Asia-Pacific area.
