India's Modi Calls For Peace During Historic Visit To Ukraine

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on August 23 again called for peace as he met with President Volodymyr Zelenskiy during a historic first visit to Kyiv as the war triggered by Russia's unprovoked full-scale invasion of Ukraine neared the two-and-a-half-year mark.

Modi, who arrived by train from Poland, sat down for talks with Zelenskiy after both men visited a memorial exhibition in Kyiv dedicated to the children killed during the war.

"We have stayed away from the war with great conviction. This does not mean that we were indifferent," Modi, seated alongside Zelenskiy, said in remarks to the media posted on his X account.

"From day one, we were not neutral. We have taken one side, and we stand firmly for peace."

Modi did not elaborate on his vision for a peaceful resolution of the war, which was started by Russia, traditionally India's ally.

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India came under fire from some Western countries after he met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow last month, which coincided with a deadly Russian missile attack on a children's hospital in Kyiv that elicited harsh international condemnation.

The United States was particularly concerned with Modi’s two-day visit to Russia as it sees New Delhi as an important pillar in its strategy to contain an ascendant China.

Zelenskiy at the time had harsh words for Modi's trip, too, saying it was a "huge disappointment and a devastating blow to peace efforts to see the leader of the world's largest democracy hug the world's most bloody criminal in Moscow on such a day."

On August 23, Modi offered his country's humanitarian support for war-wracked Ukraine.

"Whatever help is required from a humanitarian standpoint, India will always stand with you and will go above and beyond to support you," Modi said.

Zelenskiy did not make any remarks, but posted a message on X accompanied by a video of him and Modi visiting the exhibition commemorating children who have died in the war.

"Today in Kyiv, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and I honored the memory of the children whose lives were taken by Russian aggression. Children in every country deserve to live in safety. We must make this possible,"Zelenskiy said in his message.

Modi's trip is the first by an Indian leader to Kyiv since the countries established bilateral relations more than 30 years ago. He has said he plans to also discuss "deepening the India-Ukraine friendship."

In comments to Reuters, Zelenskiy's presidential aide Mykhaylo Podolyak said Modi's visit to Kyiv was significant because New Delhi "really has a certain influence" over Moscow.

"It's extremely important for us to effectively build relations with such countries, to explain to them what the correct end to the war is -- and that it is also in their interests," Podolyak said.

Meanwhile in Washington, U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin met with Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh at the Pentagon.

SEE ALSO: Modi's Balancing Act Continues With Ukraine Visit

Austin noted the countries' increased defense cooperation, including efforts to strengthen critical supply chains and interoperability between their militaries.

"We share a vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific, and our defense cooperation continues to grow stronger and stronger," Austin said in a news release. "We're expanding our defense industrial ties and working to coproduce more capabilities and strengthen supply chain resilience."

He highlighted India's participation in the recent Rim of the Pacific military exercise led by the U.S. Navy in Hawaii that brought together 29 partner nations.

"The Indian Navy remains an important security provider in the Indian Ocean," Austin said, adding the U.S. is committed to deepening naval cooperation and "doing more together with unmanned technology, and to strengthening undersea domain awareness."

Singh said the growing U.S.-India cooperation covers "all areas of human endeavor." He noted robust ties between Indians and Americans and shared democratic values and interests on a range of issues.