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Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to visit Ukraine this week to meet with President Volodymyr Zelensky after visiting Russia last month.
What’s the deal: According to a readout from both countries, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Ukraine aims to strengthen ties, focusing on defense, economic relations, business, and science and technology. A Ukrainian official indicated that Ukraine and India would also announce and sign multiple cooperation agreements.
More on Modi’s previous visit to Russia: During his recent visit to Moscow, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with President Vladimir Putin, drawing criticism for its timing, as it coincided with a Russian missile strike on a Ukrainian hospital that caused civilian deaths. The visit aimed to strengthen ties with Russia and secure favorable energy deals. Since the start of the war in Ukraine, India has been a major buyer of Russian oil, benefiting from steep discounts due to Western sanctions on Russia.
Criticism from Zelensky: During Modi’s visit to Russia, Ukrainian President Zelesnky described his presence with Putin as a “huge disappointment.” He added, [to] “see the leader of the world’s largest democracy hug the world’s most bloody criminal in Moscow” is “a devastating blow to peace efforts.”
Modi’s stance on the war in Ukraine: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has remained neutral on the Ukraine war, avoiding condemnation of Russia while consistently advocating for a diplomatic resolution. During his July visit, Modi reportedly urged Putin to end the war in Ukraine. According to Indian media, he said, “India has always called for respecting the UN Charter, including territorial integrity and sovereignty. There is no solution on the battlefield. Dialogue and diplomacy is the way forward.”
