Prime Minister Narendra Modi embarked on a two-nation trip to Poland and Ukraine today. In the first leg, he will vist the Polish capital city, Warsaw, on August 21 and 22. The prime minister will then be in Kyiv on August 23. It will be the first visit by an Indian PM to Ukraine since the country became independent in 1991.
In a departure statement, Modi, referring to the Ukraine conflict, said that as a "friend and partner", India hopes for an early return of peace and stability in the region.
Poland visit
Modi's visit to Poland will seek to increase India's presence in the sixth-largest economy in the European Union (EU), which is fast becoming a low-cost manufacturing and logistics hub.
With Poland already home to nearshoring operations of Tata Consultancy Services, HCLTech, Infosys and Wipro, and manufacturing units of Ranbaxy, Berger Paints and automotive and equipment manufacturer Escorts, the country is aiming to attract more Indian investments.
According to MEA secretary (West) Tanmaya Lal, PM Modi will meet his Polish counterpart Donald Tusk, and also Polish president Andrzej Duda. He will also interact with the Indian community there, and interact with interact with prominent business persons and ecologists.
Lal also said that nearly 30 Polish companies are doing business in India.
Visit to Ukraine
Modi will travel to Kyiv from Poland in a 'Rail Force One' train that will take around 10 hours. Modi's visit comes more than a month after his much-criticised trip to Moscow, which did not go down well with the US and some of its western allies. India has not yet condemned the Russian invasion of Ukraine and has been calling for resolution of the conflict through dialogue and diplomacy.
According to Lal, the talks between Modi and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy are expected to focus on India-Ukraine ties, with emphasis on agriculture, infrastructure, pharmaceuticals, health and education, and defence.
Ukraine, the world’s largest traditional producer of cooking oil, was once India's major supplier. But the Russian invasion resulted in edible oil prices going through the roof in 2022, forcing India to turn to Russia, the second-largest producer of sunflower oil. As of FY24, Russia is the largest source of cooking oil for India.
India has also been purchasing crude oil from Russia for the past two years, despite pressure from the west. A non-military solution to the conflict is believed to be in India's best interests, as far as trade is concerned.
Lal also said that India is willing to provide all support and contribution to Ukraine not only find a peaceful solution to the conflict but also in the recovery process.
Modi had held talks with Zelenskyy in June on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Italy.