Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to make a historic visit to Ukraine on Friday, where he will meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. This visit comes just a month and a half after Modi traveled to Moscow for talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The primary focus of Modi’s visit to Ukraine will be on strengthening economic ties and cooperation in defense, science, and technology, according to officials from India and Ukraine. However, analysts believe the visit may also signal an effort by India to adopt a more balanced stance between Russia and Ukraine, given Modi’s recent visit to Moscow, India’s long-standing relationship with Russia, and New Delhi’s reluctance to criticize Russia directly for its invasion of Ukraine.
This visit marks the first time an Indian prime minister has traveled to Ukraine since the two countries established diplomatic relations over 30 years ago. Modi’s visit to Kyiv will follow a two-day stop in Poland. Analysts suggest the timing of this trip is intended to manage the aftermath of Modi’s July 8-9 visit to Russia, which coincided with a NATO summit in Washington and Russian missile strikes on a Ukrainian hospital that killed many people. Ukrainian President Zelenskyy expressed disappointment over Modi’s meeting with Putin, describing it as a setback to peace efforts.
While Modi did not specifically address the missile strikes, he condemned attacks harming innocent people while sitting beside Putin.
Indian officials, however, downplay any connection between the Moscow and Ukraine trips. Secretary (West) Tanmaya Lal emphasized that India’s ties with both countries are independent and broad.
India and Russia have maintained strong relations since the Cold War. Russia has become an even more critical trading partner for India since the war in Ukraine began in February 2022. Along with China, India has become a significant buyer of Russian oil, especially after Western sanctions cut off many markets for Russian exports.
Modi’s visit to Moscow was seen as reinforcing the partnership between India and Russia, particularly given Russia’s importance as a trade and defense partner. About 60% of India’s military equipment comes from Russia, and more than 40% of India’s oil imports now originate from Russia. Trade between the two nations has surged, reaching nearly $65 billion in the 2023-24 financial year.
India’s trade with Ukraine is much smaller, amounting to around $3 billion before the invasion. However, Modi and Zelenskyy have met on the sidelines of global events, and Ukraine’s foreign minister visited New Delhi earlier this year. India has also sent several humanitarian aid shipments to Ukraine since the invasion.
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