Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Warsaw on Wednesday as part of a historic trip to Eastern Europe. Modi is the first Indian leader to visit Poland in 45 years. On Friday, the 73-year-old will become the first Indian prime minister to travel to Ukraine.
Before his departure, Modi called for the “return of peace” in Ukraine. As a “friend and partner” of Kiev, India hopes for “the return of peace and stability in the region,” he wrote online.
On Wednesday, Modi first wanted to meet Indians living in Poland. Talks with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk and President Andrzej Duda are planned for Thursday. Polish Deputy Prime Minister Wladislaw Kosiniak-Kamisz said his country needs a “long-term partnership with India.” Poland is a close ally of Kiev.
In Ukraine, Modi said he wanted to talk to President Volodymyr Zelensky about “prospects for a peaceful solution to the current Ukrainian conflict” and “deepening India-Ukraine friendship.”
India has so far not explicitly condemned Russia’s attack on Ukraine, instead calling for dialogue between the warring sides. The country has had close ties with Russia since the Cold War. The Kremlin is considered one of the South Asian nation’s most important arms suppliers. Modi visited Moscow in July. Images showing him hugging President Vladimir Putin drew criticism from Zelensky.
At the same time, India is also seeking a security partnership with the West as a bulwark against its rival China. India, along with the United States, Japan and Australia, is part of the Quad, which is positioning itself against China’s growing influence in the Asia-Pacific region.
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