After Russia, PM Modi will now visit Ukraine, Zelensky had invited him, will also visit Poland

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit the Ukrainian capital Kyiv on August 23. Ahead of this visit, India said on Monday that it is ready to contribute to finding a peaceful solution to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

During his visit, Prime Minister Modi will meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and discuss various issues. Foreign Ministry Secretary (West) Tanmay Lal said during a media briefing that India has always been in favor of diplomacy and dialogue to resolve the conflict in Ukraine. He said that the ongoing conflict in Ukraine will also be a part of these discussions. In response to a question, Lal said that India has independent relations with both Russia and Ukraine. Prime Minister Modi will also visit Poland before visiting Ukraine.

Tanmay Lal said that this visit is historic and important as this will be the first time that an Indian Prime Minister will visit Ukraine in more than 30 years, since diplomatic relations were established between India and Ukraine. During this visit, recent high-level contacts will be further strengthened.

At the same time, PM Modi will also visit Poland. Foreign Ministry Secretary (West) Tanmay Lal said that the Indian community in Poland is around 25,000, which includes about 5,000 students. He said that the government of Poland and the people there had provided invaluable assistance in the evacuation of Indian students from Ukraine during ‘Operation Ganga’ in 2022.

Under this operation, more than 4,000 Indian students were evacuated safely through Poland. Tanmay Lal said that this visit is important because this is the first occasion in 45 years when an Indian Prime Minister is visiting Poland. This visit is taking place at a time when 70 years of establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries are also being completed.

Lal also said that a unique bond between India and Poland dates back to the time of World War II during the 1940s, when over 6,000 Polish women and children found refuge in two princely states of India – Jamnagar and Kolhapur.