Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Ukraine on Friday amidst the ongoing conflict with Russia. During his visit, he met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the Mariinsky Palace, where a ceremonial welcome was extended to him.
In their three-hour bilateral meeting, Modi extended an invitation to Zelensky to visit India. Modi reflected on his recent meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, stating, “India has always been in favor of peace. I told Putin face-to-face that this is not the time for war.”
Following the meeting, Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar informed the press that the two leaders discussed India’s oil purchases from Russia. Jaishankar clarified, “Decisions on oil purchases are based on market conditions and not on political reasons.”
Before the meeting, Modi and Zelensky visited the Ukraine National Museum, where Modi paid tribute to children who lost their lives in the war by placing a doll at the memorial.
Earlier, Modi had visited Poland on August 21 and 22, where he reiterated the need for dialogue to resolve the Ukraine crisis. He then traveled to Ukraine by special train late on August 22.
This visit marks the first time an Indian Prime Minister has traveled to Ukraine since its formation in 1991, when the Soviet Union dissolved. Diplomatic relations between the two countries were established in 1992.
Updates from Modi’s Ukraine Visit:
03:29 PM
Zelensky stated that India could play a significant role in influencing Putin and emphasized India’s potential impact.
02:42 PM
Modi departed Kyiv for Poland at 7:30 PM local time. He will return to India from Poland.
02:22 PM
Video footage of Modi’s interaction with Ukrainian children was shared.
02:09 PM
Photos of Modi’s official visit to Zelensky’s residence were released.
01:38 PM
Modi met Ukrainian children learning Hindi at the School of Oriental Studies in Kyiv.
01:03 PM
Modi stated, “For India, respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity is crucial. I told President Putin that this is not the time for war.” He emphasized India’s readiness to play an active role in peace efforts.
12:56 PM
Modi remarked, “We come from the land of Buddha, where there is no place for war. We follow Mahatma Gandhi’s teachings of peace.”
12:50 PM
Modi expressed deep sorrow over the death of children in the conflict, stating, “The loss of children in war is unacceptable in any civilized society.”
12:48 PM
Modi acknowledged Ukraine’s help in evacuating Indian students during the conflict and assured continued humanitarian support from India.
12:35 PM
During the meeting, Modi declared it a historic day for India-Ukraine relations and expressed hope for peace in Ukraine.
12:30 PM
Jaishankar mentioned that Modi invited Zelensky to visit India, with plans to be finalized based on convenience.
12:26 PM
India provided medical kits to Ukraine for humanitarian aid, which will assist in treating war casualties.
12:22 PM
An inter-governmental task force was formed to enhance trade and economic relations between India and Ukraine.
12:17 PM
Jaishankar addressed criticism over Modi’s previous visit to Russia, explaining that cultural norms influence practices like hugging.
12:04 PM
Modi and Zelensky discussed India’s oil purchases from Russia, with Modi explaining that market conditions drive these decisions.
11:43 AM
Modi’s ceremonial welcome at the Mariinsky Palace included discussions on various bilateral issues.
10:50 AM
India’s stance on resolving the Ukraine conflict through dialogue rather than war was reiterated.
10:19 AM
Modi expressed solidarity with families of children who died in the war, stating that war is the most destructive for children.
10:00 AM
Modi honored Mahatma Gandhi’s statue in Kyiv, highlighting the global hope inspired by Gandhi’s message of humanity.
09:16 AM
Photos of Modi and Zelensky at the National Museum, including their tribute to war victims, were shared.
09:02 AM
Modi visited the National Museum, paying tribute to children who lost their lives in the conflict.
08:09 AM
Modi paid floral tributes at Mahatma Gandhi’s statue in Kyiv.
07:32 AM
A video capturing Modi’s welcome in Ukraine was released.
07:29 AM
Modi met Zelensky at the Mariinsky Palace, where their discussions included various bilateral matters.
07:08 AM
Modi arrived at Kyiv’s central railway station by train.
06:59 AM
The Indian community in Kyiv welcomed Modi with patriotic enthusiasm.
06:37 AM
Modi was set to honor Gandhi’s statue and visit the National Museum to pay respects to children affected by the war.
05:30 AM
Modi reached the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Kyiv to address the Indian community.
05:09 AM
Modi arrived in Kyiv from Warsaw, Poland, to meet with President Zelensky.
03:50 AM
UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ spokesperson expressed hope that Modi’s visit would positively impact peace efforts.
03:07 AM
Modi is scheduled for his fourth meeting with Zelensky, focusing on bilateral and multilateral cooperation.
03:06 AM
Before his Ukraine visit, Modi highlighted the need for dialogue and diplomacy to resolve conflicts.
03:05 AM
Zelensky had previously criticized Modi’s visit to Russia, expressing concerns about its impact on peace efforts.
03:04 AM
Modi’s visit comes at a time of significant Ukrainian counter-offensive against Russian forces, highlighting the conflict’s ongoing intensity.