Kyiv, Aug. 23: Making the trip, six weeks after he visited Moscow and met with President Vladimir Putin, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi who reached Ukraine early Friday met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy with a warm embrace. India hopes to strike a delicate balance in the conflicted-ridden region with the Prime Minister's latest visit.

According to the Indian Media, India and Ukraine will sign four agreements for cooperation in agriculture, medicine, culture and humanitarian assistance. Modi told Zelenskyy, "I am personally ready to play any role as a friend to help bring peace. India stands ready to make proactive contributions towards peace efforts. Both sides must sit together to find a way out of the conflict, for the only resolution lies in dialogue and diplomacy.'"

Modi arrived in Kyiv from Poland via the 'Rail Force One' train and was welcomed by members of the Indian diaspora in Ukraine at the station. "Reached Kyiv earlier this morning. The Indian community accorded a very warm welcome," he wrote in a post on X.

The two leaders proceeded to honour the memory of children at the Martyrologist Exposition in Kyiv ahead of their bilateral talks focusing on the ongoing conflict. PM Modi is expected to hold talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenksyy and share perspectives on a peaceful resolution for the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine.

The Prime Minister's visit to Kyiv comes nearly six weeks after his high-profile trip to Moscow. The US and some of its Western allies criticised the trip even as India maintains its stance of calling for peaceful resolution through talks since the beginning of the conflict in 2022. Modi is likely to 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 that has badly impacted the world.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday underscored 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 here in war-torn Ukraine.
Modi arrived here earlier in the day after a nearly seven-hour trip from Poland to hold talks with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy amid Kyiv's fresh military offensive into Russian territory. 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," 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.

While his visit marks the first visit by an Indian prime minister to the war-torn country since it became independent in 1991, Modi's trip to Poland was also the first for a PM in 45 years.

Before leaving New Delhi for his scheduled visits, Modi said: "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."

"As a friend and partner, we hope for an early return of peace and stability in the region," he added.