Posted on 08/23/2024 1:28:56 AM PDT by Cronos
The Prime Minister travelled to Kyiv from Poland in a ‘Rail Force One’ train
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday arrived in Ukraine on a historic visit to the war-torn country. This is the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Ukraine since the country became independent in 1991.
The Prime Minister travelled to Kyiv from Poland in a ‘Rail Force One’ train that took around 10 hours. The return trip will also be of the same duration.
Mr. Modi will hold both one-on-one and delegation-level talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky with a focus on ways to find a negotiated settlement to the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
On the eve of his visit to Ukraine, Mr. Modi said that India was a supporter of peace in this region as he reiterated that “this is not an era of war” and any conflict should be resolved through diplomacy and dialogue.
The ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and West Asia are a pressing concern for the global community and the loss of innocent lives in any crisis has become the biggest challenge for the entire humanity, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Thursday (August 22, 2024) as India and Poland announced the elevation of ties to a strategic partnership. Towards this they agreed to formulate and execute a five-year action plan that will guide bilateral collaboration in the years 2024-2028 across several areas.
“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. We support dialogue and diplomacy for the early restoration of peace and stability,” Mr. Modi said in remarks after the bilateral meeting with his Polish counterpart Donald Tusk. “For this, India, along with its friendly countries, is ready to provide all possible support.”
Upon arrival, PM Narendra Modi he was received at the railway station and subsequently headed to the Hyatt Hotel for initial engagements. The Indian diaspora welcomed him at the hotel.
His visit will include a notable stop at the multimedia Martyrologist at the Ukraine National Museum. Here, the Prime Minister will honour the memory of the children of Ukraine, whose lives were taken by the Russian invasion.
Later in the day, PM Modi will pay homage to the Gandhi statue, symbolising the enduring legacy of Mahatma Gandhi and his principles of peace and non-violence. The bronze statue of the Mahatma at AV Fomin Botanical Garden was unveiled in 2020 on the occasion of the 151st birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi.
Mr. Modi will then head to the Mariinskyi palace, where he will be welcomed by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. This will be followed by a restricted meeting between the two leaders to discuss key issues. High-level delegation meetings will follow, where important discussions on bilateral cooperation are expected. Document exchanges will take place to formalise agreements and collaborations between the two nations.
One of the highlights of the visit will be the presentation of the BHISHM Cube, a revolutionary mobile hospital designed for disaster management. This will be followed by Mr. Modi’s interaction with Ukrainian students who are learning Hindi, emphasising the cultural and educational ties between India and Ukraine.
PM Modi’s Ukraine visit likely to explore deeper ties in defence manufacturing The symbolism and balancing act aside, Prime Minster Narendra Modi’s visit to Ukraine, the first by an Indian Prime Minister, will focus on cooperation in defence, with India operating a large inventory of military equipment of both Russian and Ukrainian origin.
In the three years since the war in Ukraine, India has seen supplies and spares held up for some time and has attempted to diversify and reduce dependence by turning to domestic companies as well as seeking alternate vendor base in other countries.
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