Indian Prime Minister Narenda Modi intends to discuss the prospects for peace as well as the reconstruction of Ukraine in his visit this week with Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelensky, The Print reported, citing unnamed diplomatic sources.
Modi, who arrives in Kyiv on Aug 23 after a two-day visit to Poland, will discuss "the entire gamut of bilateral cooperation, including ongoing engagement between joint working groups for trade, economy, culture, pharmaceuticals, and other spheres," the magazine reported.
During the visit, the first by an Indian prime minister to Ukraine since diplomatic ties were established between the two countries 30 years ago, was expected to primarily discuss possible peace talks between Russia and Ukraine.
“India has substantive and independent ties with both Russia and Ukraine, and these partnerships, they stand on their own. This is not a zero-sum game. The PM had also traveled to Russia. Many ideas were discussed,” Tanmaya Lal, secretary (west) at India's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), told reporters in New Delhi.
“India has maintained a very clear and consistent position that diplomacy and dialogue can resolve this conflict which can lead to enduring peace. Lasting peace can only be achieved through options that are acceptable to both parties and it can only be a negotiated settlement,” Lal said.
The visit comes after Russia postponed purported secret indirect ceasefire talks in Doha this month after Ukraine's incursion into western Russia, The Washington Post reported Aug 17, citing anonymous sources.
Even if the talks had gone ahead, the newspaper wrote, unnamed senior officials in Kyiv gave the talks a 20 percent chance of success or less.
Indian humanitarian assistance to Ukraine since the full-scale Russian invasion of 2022 has totaled 135 tons of material, including medicines, power generators and medical equipment, The Print said.
