Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv on Friday, marking the first visit by an Indian leader to Ukraine.
Modi’s visit is seen as an effort to find a resolution to the ongoing conflict with Russia, which has persisted for over two years.
During the historic visit, Modi and Zelensky embraced at the Mariinsky Palace, with Zelensky appearing visibly emotional. Modi is positioning himself as a potential mediator between Moscow and Kyiv.
However, the timing of his visit is particularly critical, with the conflict showing no signs of abating. Ukrainian forces are currently mounting a major offensive into Russia’s Kursk region, while Russian troops continue their advances in eastern Ukraine, claiming recent territorial gains.
Modi, who had expressed support for dialogue and diplomacy in a statement made in Poland before arriving in Ukraine, reiterated his belief that “no problem can be resolved on a battlefield.”
Despite his calls for peaceful resolution, his effectiveness as a mediator remains uncertain. Modi has strong ties with Russia and met with President Vladimir Putin in Moscow in July, a visit that drew criticism for the timing of a hug between the leaders shortly after a Russian attack on a Ukrainian children’s hospital.
Zelensky had then criticized the gesture as detrimental to peace efforts.
During his Kyiv visit, Zelensky stated that he and Modi had honored the memory of children lost to the conflict, emphasizing that “children of every country deserve to be safe.”
Modi’s trip comes amid ongoing international pressure on India to distance itself from Russia. While India maintains warm relations with Russia, it also seeks stronger security ties with Western nations, balancing its stance on the Ukraine conflict.
India has abstained from condemning Russia at the UN and calls for direct dialogue to resolve the differences.
As Modi arrived in Kyiv, Russia’s actions continued to escalate, with strikes reported in the Sumy and Kharkiv regions, and significant civilian casualties documented. The UN has verified over 10,000 civilian deaths in Ukraine since the invasion began, though the actual number is believed to be higher.
