PM Modi visits war-torn Ukraine. What does this mean for Indian diplomacy?

Kyiv: For the first time since the fall of the Soviet Union and the Eastern block, an Indian Head of state has visited Ukraine.

Since the start of the Russia-Ukraine war in 2022, India has been in a diplomatically challenging position. India has always been an ally of the Russian Federation since 1991 but at the same time supports Ukraine to foster New Delhi's relationship with NATO and EU.

However, India has managed to maintain a good relationship between both sides. India is one of the few nations that continues to buy Russian oil and defense products while not being sanctioned by the Western powers. At the same time, India also enjoys great defense and business deals with Western governments and their industries.

Modi and Zelenskyy standing for their respective national anthems (Kyiv)

On August 23, 2024, PM Modi visits Kyiv, Ukraine for talks with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. This has been a significant step taken by New Delhi to further enhance the relations between India and Ukraine.

India has also supplied 100 mobile assembly hospitals as an aid to help the people of Ukraine. PM Modi and Pres. Zelenskyy also commemorated the children who died in an artillery strike on the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv.

This gesture by PM Modi has received positive views from Ukrainians. The news has been trending on the Ukrainian Internet for the past 2 days, being shared. He has also been perceived as an empathetic person.

A YouTube video from a Ukrainian Media page (original)

Translated copy

This has been a diplomatic win for India which will enable us to stay afloat and prosper in these tough times as our neutral stance has again been proven with time.