PM Modi, Zelenskyy Meet in Kyiv: A Warm Embrace With Handshake And Hug

Kyiv: After visiting the Mahatma Gandhi memorial in Ukraine, Prime Minister Modi met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv.  At their meeting, which took place at the Martyrologist Exposition, the two leaders exchanged a hug and handshake. 

During their discussion, PM Modi was informed about the severe impacts of the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict.  

Prime Minister Modi is scheduled to hold both one-on-one and delegation-level talks with Zelenskyy with a focus on ways to find a negotiated settlement to the Russia-Ukraine conflict. The Prime Minister's visit to Kyiv comes nearly six weeks after his high-profile trip to Moscow during which he held extensive talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin largely with a focus on ending the conflict.  

In the first-ever visit to Ukraine by an Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi arrived in Kyiv on a nearly seven-hour trip to hold talks with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy amid Kyiv's fresh military offensive into Russian territory. 

"PM @narendramodi arrived in Kyiv this morning on a landmark official visit. This is the first-ever visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Ukraine since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries," Randhir Jaiswal, Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson posted on X.

"Reached Kyiv earlier this morning. The Indian community accorded a very warm welcome," Prime Minister Modi wrote on X. The Prime Minister arrived in Kyiv from Poland onboard a 'Rail Force One train that took around 10 hours, in the second and final leg of his two-nation trip.  

Following talks with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, PM Modi said on Thursday that the ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and West Asia are a matter of "deep concern" and that "dialogue and diplomacy" is the way forward to restore peace. "This is India's firm belief that no problem can be solved on the battlefield. In any crisis, the loss of lives of innocent people has become the biggest challenge for the whole of humanity," he said.

"We support dialogue and diplomacy for the early restoration of peace and stability. For this, India, along with its friendly countries, is ready to provide all possible support," he said in a media statement in Warsaw.   

PM Modi's Visit to Ukraine: 10 Points

• Gandhi Statue Appeal: At the Mahatma Gandhi statue in Kyiv, Prime Minister Modi reiterated India’s stance on global conflicts, advocating for unity and cooperation to address humanity's challenges. He emphasized that "this is not an era of war" and called for collective action to tackle global threats.
• Bilateral Engagements: The Prime Minister's visit aimed to cover a broad spectrum of bilateral relations, including political, trade, economic, investment, education, cultural exchanges, and humanitarian assistance, according to the Ministry of External Affairs.
• Call for Negotiated Peace: Tanmaya Lal, Secretary (West) in the MEA, highlighted that lasting peace requires solutions acceptable to both parties and can only be achieved through negotiated settlements, stressing that "it's not a zero-sum game."
• Previous Meeting: PM Modi previously met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the G7 summit in Italy in June, where he underscored India’s commitment to supporting a peaceful resolution through "dialogue and diplomacy."
• Reassurance of Friendship: Skand Ranjan Tayal, former Indian ambassador to Russia, suggested that Modi would likely reassure Zelenskyy of India’s continued friendship and cooperation, despite previous criticisms.
• Neutral Stance on Ukraine War: India has maintained a neutral position on the Ukraine conflict, balancing its historically friendly ties with Russia while engaging with both nations diplomatically.
• Continued Trade with Russia: Despite Western sanctions on Moscow, India has continued trade with Russia, including importing discounted crude oil, benefiting both economies.
• Support to Ukraine: India has extended humanitarian support to Ukraine, including essential medicines and aid, demonstrating its commitment to assisting in the conflict's aftermath.

PM Modi held talks with Zelenskyy in June on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Italy's Apulia. In the meeting, Modi conveyed to the Ukrainian President that India would continue to do everything within its means to support a peaceful solution to the Ukraine conflict and that the way to peace is through "dialogue and diplomacy".  PM Modi also told Zelenskyy that India believes in a "human-centric" approach to finding a solution to the conflict in Ukraine. In the meeting, the Ukrainian president invited the Prime Minister to visit Kyiv.