Mission A La Kyiv: Zelenskyy Says 'India Can Put Putin In His Place' After PM Modi's Maiden Visit | Highlights

-Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday reached Ukrainian capital Kyiv at the invitation of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, becoming the first Indian prime minister to visit the country since it became independent in 1991.

-PM Modi and Ukrainian President Zelenskyy held discussions on key issues, focussing on Ukraine's war with Russia and restoration of peace. PM Modi said India was "never neutral" on Ukraine's war with Russia and stood with peace. READ MORE

-After meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Ukraine President Zelenskyy said India is a "big country" which has "big influence" and can stop Putin and halt his economy, and "put him really in his place." READ MORE

-As Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv on Friday, India gifted four Bharat Health Initiative for Sahyog Hita & Maitri (BHISHM) cubes to Ukraine which will help in providing emergency medical care to the country in a conflict with Russia. READ MORE

-Responding to a question on the criticism over Prime Minister Narendra Modi's hug to Russian President Vladimir Putin during his Moscow visit in July this year, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Friday said it is something "part of our culture". EAM Jaishankar was addressing media in Ukraine's Kyiv where PM Modi landed on Friday and later met Ukrainian President Zelenskyy amid country's raging war with Russia. READ MORE

Scroll below to catch all updates of PM Modi's Ukraine visit from the beginning:

After concluding his two-day "productive" trip to Poland, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday left for a historic visit to Ukraine at the invitation of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

The prime minister said he wpuld share with the Ukrainian leader perspectives on a peaceful resolution of the ongoing conflict.

His visit to Kyiv comes nearly six weeks after his high-profile trip to Moscow which triggered criticism from the US and some of its Western allies.

PM

Confirming his visit to Ukraine, Prime Minister Narendra Modi posted on X, "I will be visiting Ukraine at the invitation of President Zelenskyy. This visit will be an opportunity to build on the earlier discussions with him and deepening the India-Ukraine friendship. We will also share perspectives on the peaceful resolution of the ongoing Ukraine conflict. As a friend and partner, we hope for an early return of peace and stability in the region."

PM Modi's historic visit to Ukraine is taking place after a two-day "productive" trip to Poland during which he held wide-ranging talks with the Polish leadership.

"PM @narendramodi concludes a productive visit to Poland, setting a new milestone in bilateral relations. This high-level Prime Ministerial visit after four decades will widen and deepen India-Poland relations," Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal posted on X.

PM Modi is travelling from Poland to Ukraine on a special train known as Train Force One. The train is specifically known for its luxury facilities and world-class service.

The reason behind the long train journey is that all airports in Ukraine are closed owing to the Russia-Ukraine war. Hence, travel by train is considered to be a safe option.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi boarded Train Force One, the luxurious train service, for a journey from Poland to Kyiv, Ukraine on August 23. The visit will last about seven hours, including nearly 20 hours of train travel.

Features Of Train Force One:

• Wood-Panelled Cabins: Interiors designed for both work and relaxation.

• Large Meeting Table: Suitable for important meetings and discussions.

• Plush Sofa: Comfortable seating for relaxation.

• Wall-Mounted TV: Entertainment available within the cabin.

• Comfortable Sleeping Arrangements: Designed for guest's restful sleep.
  

Commenting on PM Modi's visit to her country, former Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko said, "Bringing peace to Ukraine is of paramount importance but beyond that looking for the future, I do see a very significant potential for our bilateral cooperation, especially in such sectors starting with Information Technologies. I do see ample potential in agriculture, especially in processing agricultural products, which is important not just to our countries but to other countries in the world. The third sector I would mention is education. We have a very good positive tradition in education bringing Indian students to Ukraine and exchanging visits in science and technologies. I do see the potential of the Indian investments to bring in infrastructure projects to Ukraine...I see a very good possibility of Ukraine developing our bilateral relationships with India."

Ahead of his much-anticipated visit to conflict-torn Ukraine, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said India firmly believes that no problem can be solved on the battlefield and it is ready to extend all possible cooperation for the restoration of peace and stability in the region.

Modi made the remarks after holding wide-ranging talks with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk that saw the elevation of India-Poland ties to the level of strategic partnership and firming up of a social security pact to promote the mobility of skilled workers.

(Via PTI)

Pinning hopes on PM Modi's visit to the war-torn country, a member of the Indian community in Kyiv said, "It is a very good thing that PM Modi is coming (to Ukraine). My neighbours, colleagues, and people here are very excited and hoping from PM Modi to bring a message of peace. We all have been wanting this war to end for a very long time now.... As PM Modi said this era is not for war, we want this war to be over soon."

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday had a "fruitful" exchange of views with a group of prominent Polish Indologists in Warsaw and he deeply appreciated their work on Indian culture, language and arts as well as their efforts in strengthening cultural ties between the two countries.

The group of Indologists included Prof. Maria Christopher Byrski, Prof. Monika Browarczyk, Prof. Halina Marlewicz, Prof. Danuta Stasik and Prof. Przemyslaw Szurek.

"These eminent scholars and Indologists are working on different aspects of Indian history and culture. We talked about ways to make Indology more widespread. The distinguished academics also expressed joy at the increasing popularity of Yoga across Poland and Europe," Modi said in a post on X.

Before embarking on two-nation visit, referring to the conflict in Ukraine, PM Modi said as a 'friend and partner, India hopes for an early return of peace and stability in the region.

"I look forward to the opportunity to build upon earlier conversations with President Zelenskyy on strengthening bilateral cooperation and share perspectives on peaceful resolution of the ongoing Ukraine conflict," he said.

According to MEA, Modi's meeting with Zelenskyy will include several aspects of bilateral ties including political, trade, economic, investments, education, cultural, people-to-people exchanges, humanitarian assistance and others.

"Lasting peace can only be achieved through options that are acceptable to both parties. And it can only be a negotiated settlement," said Tanmaya Lal, Secretary (West) in the MEA.

According to Secretary (West) in the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Tanmaya Lal, there was a discussion on the situation in Ukraine at the talks between the two prime ministers where Modi asserted India stands ready to work with friends and stakeholders to contribute to resolving the situation.

A joint statement on Modi-Tusk talks said the two leaders expressed their "deepest concern" over the war raging in Ukraine including its terrible and tragic humanitarian consequences.

"They reiterated the need for a comprehensive, just, and lasting peace in line with international law, consistent with the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, including respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity," it said.

Ahead of PM Modi's arrival in Ukrainian capital Kyiv, a member of the Indian community said, "There are lots of hope and expectation from Modiji. We are happy that he is coming here. We expect that there would be some kind of truce, some kind of peace formula would be worked out. We hope he is coming with some message so that this war ends."

PM Modi on Friday arrived in the Ukrainian capital Kyiv. He is scheduled to hold wide-ranging talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy later today. This is first-ever visit to Ukraine by an Indian prime minister since Ukraine became independent in 1991.

The prime minister travelled to Kyiv from Poland in a 'Rail Force One' train that took around 10 hours. The return trip will also be of the same duration.

Members of the Indian Diaspora welcome PM Modi as the prime minister arrives in the Ukrainian capital Kyiv on Friday

PM Narendra Modi is the first ever Indian Prime Minister to visit Ukraine since it got independence from the Soviet Union in 1991.

On Friday, PM Modi arrived in Kyiv around 7:30 am (local time). He received a warm welcome with the chants of ‘Bharat Mata ki Jai’ by the Indian diaspora after his arrival in Kyiv.

The Prime Minister is scheduled to meet President Zelenskyy soon.

As Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Kyiv Central Railway Station from Poland to begin his one-day visit to Ukraine by 'Train Force One' earlier today. There he received warm welcome by the Ukrainian officials. The train journey took around 10 hours in the second and final leg of his two-nation trip.

The scheduled meeting between PM Modi and President Zelenskyy will take place at the Presidential Palace in Kyiv. PM Modi will hold both one-on-one and delegation-level talks with Zelenskyy with a focus on ways to find a negotiated settlement to the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday paid floral tributes to Mahatma Gandhi in Ukraine's Kyiv.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy came together to honour the memory of children during a visit to ‘Martyrologist’ Exposition in Kyiv.

Following his meeting with the Ukrainian President at the Ukraine National Museum in Kyiv, PM Modi is set to hold both one-on-one and delegation-level talks with Zelenskyy.

The focus of the leaders' talks is expected to be on bringing peace and stability to Ukraine and the larger region amid the ongoing tensions there.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is in Ukraine, said on X, "President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and I paid homage at the Martyrologist Exposition in Kyiv. Conflict is particularly devastating for young children. My heart goes out to the families of children who lost their lives, and I pray that they find the strength to endure their grief."

PM Modi held talks with Zelenskyy in June on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Italy's Apulia. In the meeting, Modi conveyed to the Ukrainian President that India would continue to do everything within its means to support a peaceful solution to the Ukraine conflict and that the way to peace is through "dialogue and diplomacy".

PM Modi also told Zelenskyy that India believes in a "human-centric" approach to find a solution to the conflict in Ukraine.

In the meeting, the Ukrainian president invited the prime minister to visit Kyiv.

PM Narendra Modi and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy honoured the memory of children at the Martyrologist Exposition in Kyiv, today.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday highlighted the relevance of Mahatma Gandhi’s eternal message of peace in building a harmonious society, as he paid floral tribute to the statue of the iconic Indian leader Kyiv in war-torn Ukraine.

PM Modi paid floral tribute to Mahatma Gandhi's statue in ‘Oasis of Peace’ park in Kyiv.

"Paid tributes to Mahatma Gandhi at Kyiv. The ideals of Bapu are universal and give hope to millions. May we all follow the path he showed to humanity," PM Modi wrote on X.

"Remembering Mahatma’s timeless message of peace. PM @narendramodi paid tribute to Mahatma Gandhi in the ‘Oasis of Peace’ park in Kyiv. PM underscored the relevance of Mahatma’s eternal message of peace in building a harmonious society and finding solutions to present-day global challenges," Randhir Jaiswal, Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson posted on X.

India and Ukraine signed four agreements after talks between PM Modi and President Zelenskyy.

The four agreements between India and Ukraine will provide for cooperation in agriculture, medicine, culture and humanitarian assistance, officials said.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar addressed media on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Ukraine visit and meet with President Zelenskyy. Jaishankar said PM Modi has concluded his official engagements.and called his Ukraine trip a "landmark visit".

"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 met the Indian community...His last engagement is going on right now, which is that he's meeting Ukrainian students who are studying Hindi...," Jaishankar said.

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External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar addressed media on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Ukraine visit and meet with President Zelenskyy and said significant part of discussions between PM Modi and President Zelenskyy was devoted to bilateral relations.

There were discussions on trade, economic issues, defence, pharmaceuticals, agricurture, education, Jaishankar said.

Modi and Zelenskyy tasked inter-governmental commission to specifically focus on rebuilding trade and economic relations, Jaishankar added.

Much of discussions between PM Modi and President Zelenskyy was with regard to the war in Ukraine: EAM Jaishankar

PM Modi called for practical engagement between all stakeholders to develop innovative solutions that will contribute towards peace, Jaishankar said on Friday after PM Modi and Zelenskyy's meet in Ukraine.

What PM Modi And Zelenskyy Discussed

-PM Modi reiterated India's willingness to contribute in all possible ways to facilitate an early return of peace: EAM Jaishankar.

-At various points of time, India had taken public positions cautioning against danger of escalation: Jaishankar.

-PM Modi spoke also about his discussions recently with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow: Jaishankar.

Addressing a press briefing on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Ukraine visit and meet with President Zelenskyy, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said the Indian PM sought Ukraine President's assessment both of ground situation and diplomatic scenario, adding that Zelenskyy spoke on both issues.

Modi-Zelenskyy talks revolved around to some extent to military situation and on conceivable pathways to peace, EAM Jaishankar said.

Ukrainian side wanted continued involvement of India with Global Peace summit, Jaishankar said on Modi-Zelenskyy talks.

Jaishankar added that it is India's view that the two sides - Russia and Ukraine - need to engage with each other to find a solution.

PM Modi, Zelenskyy reiterated readiness to uphold principles of international law such as respect for territorial integrity, sovereignty, Jaishankar said.

It was a very detailed, open and in many ways constructive discussions, EAM Jaishankar said on Modi-Zelenskyy talks. Jaishankar added that there was also a discussion on what could be effective ways of taking these discussions forward.

During an interaction with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv, Prime Minister Narendra Modi reportedly said "India was never neutral or indifferent" to the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

India had not been “neutral or an indifferent bystander” during the Russia-Ukraine war and was always on the side of peace, Reuters quoted the prime minister as saying..

Later, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar in a press briefing gave details on the bilateral meeting between PM Modi and the Ukrainian president, saying that much of discussions between the two leaders Zelenskyy was with regard to the war in Ukraine,”

India has decided to gift four Bharat Health Initiative for Sahyog Hita & Maitri (BHISHM) cubes, a mobile hospital aimed at providing emergency medical care, to Ukraine, officials on Friday said.

Under the umbrella of Project Aarogya Maitri, a programme to provide essential medical supplies to developing countries as humanitarian assistance, the government has created the BHISHM initiative, which provides the means to deliver all basic facilities and equipment for providing emergency medical care in an easy to use and rapidly deployable manner, officials noted.

On PM Modi's hug to Russian President Putin in Moscow, EAM S Jaishankar said, "In our part of the world when people meet people they are given to embracing each other. It may not be part of your culture, it is part of our culture..."

As Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv on Friday, India gifted four Bharat Health Initiative for Sahyog Hita & Maitri (BHISHM) cubes to Ukraine which will help in providing emergency medical care to the country in a conflict with Russia.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi reached Ukraine's Kyiv on a train earlier Friday and held wide-ranging talks with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy under the shadow of the raging war.

PM Modi on Friday presented four BHISHM Cubes to the Ukrainian government during his visit to the war-torn country where he met President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

BHISHM cubes are mobile hospitals made by packing all essential medicines and equipment in cubical boxes (15 inches each) in a well-organised manner, and arranged according to the types of injuries and medical issues that could be encountered in a war or natural disaster, as per information cited in a news agency PTI report. READ FULL REPORT

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's Instagram post with pictures of Prime Minister Narendra Modi became his most liked post on the social media platform within a few hours of being uploaded on Friday.

Sources cited in a news agency PTI report noted that Zelenskyy's most liked post had 7.8 lakh likes before his "Insta Collab" with Narendra Modi. His pictures with Narendra Modi received over 1 million likes within hours, they said, adding, it shows the bump in their social media engagements most world leaders receive when the prime minister is part of it.

PM Modi has more following than any head of government on various social media platforms.

In his post, Zelenskyy said, "Our meeting is important for strengthening the dialogue and relationship between India and Ukraine."

After meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Ukraine President Zelenskyy said India is a "big country" which has "big influence" and can stop Putin and halt his economy, and "put him really in his place."

"India will play its role. I think that India began to recognise that this is not just conflict, this is real war of one man and his name is Putin against whole country whose name is Ukraine. You are a big country. You have a big influence and you can stop Putin and halt his economy, and put him really in his place...," Zelenskyy said.

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy after meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Friday, "I am happy that PM Modi came to visit us and I believe this is very important...This is the first visit of the prime Minister of India to Ukraine. We are ready on our part to do the respective steps. We've heard messages from the Indian side that they would be happy to welcome our team to India."

"I believe this is the approximation of our parties that is positive, not negative. As for Putin, my position was that my signal of condemnation was not because the PM (Modi) came to see Putin, but because the PM came to Putin and Putin killed our children. We wanted to have some reaction, to hear some response," Zelenskyy said.

I think it's important that the democratic world understands what is happening, and that "Putin is a killer", Zelenskyy said after meeting PM Modi in Kyiv on Friday.

Responding to PM Modi and Putin's hug during the former's Moscow visit last month, Zelenskyy said, "As for the hugs with the PM of India or the handshakes or anything else, it's the decision made by every leader. I can't tell you anything about that. I believe that if the leaders of the world are meeting with other leaders who kill people and children, conquer territories, and invade the territories, it means that there is no diplomatic isolation to this person. It means that this is an act..."

"A person like Putin would understand that he's doing something wrong, that he is isolated, that he's alone, and that the whole world condemns him. That is why I believe that we cannot remain silent. We have to respond. And I always respond because I know what would be the end to that...So I will keep reminding anyone we have context with, and I think this is important...," Zelenskyy said.