PM Modi arrives in Kyiv, to push for ‘peaceful resolution’ of Russia-Ukraine conflict

Prime Minister Narendra Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is all set to hold talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during his "historic" visit to Ukraine on August 23, nearly a month and a half after he travelled to Moscow where he raised the issue of the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine.

Modi, who has often stressed the need for dialogue and diplomacy to end the war between Russia and Ukraine, will share perspectives on the "peaceful resolution of the ongoing Ukraine conflict" with Zelenskyy. "As a friend and partner, we hope for an early return of peace and stability in the region," he said in his departure statement.

As he gears up to meet wartime Kyiv, Modi's message seems to be loud and clear that India won't pick a side but it will act as a bridge of peace. During his visit to Moscow last month, Modi described Russia as India's "all-weather friend" and lauded President Vladimir Putin for strengthening the bilateral relations over the past two decades of his leadership.

Modi's high praise of Russia as an ally and Putin's leadership came amid ongoing efforts by the Western world to isolate the Russian leader over the war in Ukraine.

His trip, however, elicited fierce criticism from Zelenskyy who said it was a "huge disappointment and a devastating blow to peace efforts". His remarks came after a Russian missile struck the largest children's hospital in Ukraine, targeting young cancer patients on the same day.

"It is a huge disappointment and a devastating blow to peace efforts to see the leader of the world's largest democracy hug the world's most bloody criminal in Moscow on such a day," Zelenskyy wrote on X.

As Modi is all set to meet Zelenskyy, all eyes will be on how Modi normalises the relations with Kyiv after his Moscow visit. Mykhailo Podolyak, an adviser in the Ukrainian president's office, told Reuters Modi's visit to Kyiv was significant because New Delhi "really has a certain influence" over Moscow.

"It's extremely important for us to effectively build relations with such countries, to explain to them what the correct end to the war is - and that it is also in their interests," he said.