PM Modi In Ukraine 'With A Message of Peace'; Jaishankar Says, Much Discussion With Zelenskyy Happened On Russia War

Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasised that India has not been neutral in the Russia-Ukraine war but has been in favour of peace and reiterated that India is a land of Lord Buddha, not war during his visit to Ukraine.

Earlier, Modi met Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and the Indian diaspora in Ukraine. He also visited multimedia Martyrologist exposition on children at the National Museum of History of Ukraine in Kyiv.

Modi wished for peace and prosperity and asserted that the progress in bilateral ties of both countries despite conflict shows maturity and thanked Zelenskyy for helping Indian students, who were trapped in Ukraine.

He added that India has worked for humanitarian aide and stayed away from war. He said, "I have come with a message of peace, also from behalf of Global South," and urged for dialogue and diplomacy.

Before PM Modi's address in Ukraine, External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar briefed media on the 'landmark visit' and said that official engagements have been concluded.

"It's the first time that an Indian PM has visited Ukraine since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1992. PM arrived by a special train in the morning and he was received by the First Deputy Foreign Minister at the Kyiv railway station," he said.

This is PM Modi's fourth meeting with Zelenskyy and they have had seven telecommunications. Earlier they met in Glasgow in 2021, then in Hiroshima in 2023 and most recently in Italy in June 2024.

On Russia-Ukraine war, Jaishankar said, "Much discussion happened on the war... It is India's view that the two sides need to engage with each other to find a solution," as PM Modi earlier went to Russia.