Modi's Strategic Diplomatic Moves in Europe

Amid global efforts for peace in Ukraine, India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi may visit Kyiv in August, with a subsequent trip to Poland. This follows his recent discussions with Ukrainian President Zelenskyy at the G7 Summit. India's stance emphasizes dialogue and diplomacy to resolve the Ukraine conflict.

India and Ukraine are discussing a potential visit by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Kyiv next month, amid renewed global efforts to bring peace to the conflict-hit eastern European nation, according to multiple diplomatic sources.

Sources indicate that Modi may visit Kyiv around Ukraine's National Day on August 24 and is expected to travel to Poland after concluding his Ukraine visit. The prime minister held discussions with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy last month during the G7 Summit held in Italy's Apulia region.

If the trip materializes, it would mark the first visit to Poland by an Indian prime minister in over four decades. The potential two-nation visit may commence around August 23-24, although no final decision has been made yet due to the need for significant logistical preparations.

There is no official confirmation of the visit from either India or Ukraine at this time. In his meeting with Zelenskyy on June 14, Modi expressed India's commitment to supporting a peaceful resolution to the Russia-Ukraine conflict, emphasizing that dialogue and diplomacy are the pathways to peace. He also reiterated India's human-centric approach to finding a solution. Zelenskyy extended an invitation for Modi to visit Kyiv during the meeting.

India has consistently maintained that the conflict in Ukraine must be resolved through dialogue and diplomacy. Modi's recent visit to Russia on July 8-9 drew criticism from the United States and dissatisfaction among several western countries. India, however, rejected Washington's concerns, asserting the importance of the 'freedom of choice' in a multipolar world and urged all nations to be mindful of such realities. During his summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Modi delivered a clear message that a battlefield solution is not viable and that peace talks are ineffective amidst active conflict.

(With inputs from agencies.)