Washington:

US President Joe Biden has commended Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his “message of peace” and “humanitarian support” for Ukraine, as they discussed his historic visit to Kyiv and the prospects for the early return of peace through dialogue and diplomacy.

The phone conversation between Biden and Modi on Monday, initiated by the US president, came three days after Modi paid a high-profile visit to Kyiv during which he told President Zelenskyy that Ukraine and Russia should sit together to end the war and that India was ready to play an “active role” to restore peace.

In a post on ‘X’, Joe Biden said, “I spoke with Prime Minister Modi to discuss his recent trip to Poland and Ukraine, and commended him for his message of peace and ongoing humanitarian support for Ukraine.” “We also affirmed our commitment to working together to contribute to peace and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific,” Biden said.

I spoke with Prime Minister Modi to discuss his recent trip to Poland and Ukraine, and commended him for his message of peace and ongoing humanitarian support for Ukraine.

We also affirmed our commitment to work together to contribute to peace and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific.

— President Biden (@POTUS) August 26, 2024

This was the first call between the two leaders after PM Modi’s trip to Russia, Poland and Ukraine and the recent political developments in Bangladesh.

The White House readout of the call had no reference to Bangladesh, which was mentioned in an ‘X’ post by Prime Minister Modi.

PM Modi’s nearly nine-hour visit to Ukraine, the first by an Indian prime minister since its independence in 1991, came six weeks after he held summit talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin that triggered anguish in some Western capitals.

The White House, in a readout of the call, said the two leaders discussed Modi’s recent trip to Poland and Ukraine, as well as the United Nations General Assembly meetings in September.

“The President commended the prime minister for his historic visits to Poland and Ukraine, the first by an Indian prime minister in decades, and for his message of peace and ongoing humanitarian support for Ukraine, including its energy sector,” it said.

Biden and PM Modi affirmed their continued support for a peaceful resolution of the conflict under international law, based on the UN Charter.

“The leaders also emphasised their continued commitment to work together, including through regional groups like the Quad, to contribute to peace and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific,” the White House said.

Meanwhile. commenting on Biden’s telephonic conversation with Modi, White House National Security Communications Advisor John Kirby said, “I think it’s safe to say they certainly talked about Ukraine and the Prime Minister’s trip to Kyiv and the prospects for moving forward under President Zelenskyy’s plan for a just peace.

“We welcome any other country that wants to help President Zelenskyy work towards this just peace,” he said.

“And any country that’s willing to come at that discussion by starting with President Zelenskyy’s perspective, by hearing him out, by signing on to that proposal – and I won’t speak for India and what they’re signing on to or not; that’s for the Prime Minister and his team to talk to,” he said.

Mr Kirby said the US certainly welcomes any nation that is willing to be helpful and to start that conversation by ascribing to President Zelenskyy’s just peace proposal and getting his perspectives.

Earlier, in a post on X, PM Modi said that during the call with Biden, they had a detailed exchange of views on various regional and global issues, including the situation in Ukraine.

“I reiterated India’s full support for early return of peace and stability,” the prime minister said.

Moreover, PM Modi said that he and Biden also discussed the ongoing situation in Bangladesh and stressed the need for the early restoration of normalcy and ensuring the safety and security of minorities, especially Hindus.

Following the unfolding political developments in Bangladesh, India has been consistently pressing to ensure the safety and security of minorities, especially Hindus, in the neighbouring country.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Washington:

US President Joe Biden, during his telephonic conversation with Prime Minister Narendra, commended the latter’s “historic visits” to Poland and Ukraine as well as his message of peace, the White House said in a statement.

The two leaders discussed PM Modi’s trip to two European nations and the upcoming United Nations General Assembly meetings in September.

“The President commended the Prime Minister for his historic visits to Poland and Ukraine, the first by an Indian Prime Minister in decades, and for his message of peace and ongoing humanitarian support for Ukraine, including its energy sector,” the statement read.

PM Modi and President Biden affirmed their continued support for a “peaceful resolution” of the conflict “in accordance with international law, on the basis of the UN Charter.”

The leaders also emphasised their continued commitment to work together, including through regional groups like the Quad, to contribute to peace and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific.

Earlier, the Prime Minister’s Office said that Prime Minister Modi briefed Biden on his recent visit to Ukraine and reiterated India’s consistent position in favour of dialogue and diplomacy.

PM Modi and Biden held discussions on various regional and global issues. The two leaders reiterated their commitment to further strengthen the cooperation in multilateral fora, including the Quad.

“While discussing the situation in Ukraine, the Prime Minister briefed President Biden on his recent visit to Ukraine. He reiterated India’s consistent position in favour of dialogue and diplomacy and expressed full support for early return of peace and stability,” the statement read.

The conversation took place days after PM Modi’s visit to Poland and Ukraine. PM Modi visited Ukraine on Friday last, the first by an Indian PM to the European nation.

During the bilateral meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, PM Modi emphasised India’s position of peaceful resolution of the conflict through dialogue and diplomacy.

“India was never neutral, we have always been on the side of peace,” PM Modi told Zelenskyy. He said that India was ready to play an active role in the path to peace and progress.

Russia and Ukraine have been engaged in war since 2022. India has always advocated “peace and diplomacy” for resolving the conflict between Ukraine and Russia.

Later on Monday (local time), the White House said they discussed peace prospects “in accordance with President Zelenskyy’s plan for a just peace.”

White House National Security Communications Advisor John Kirby reiterated that Washington would welcome any country that wants to help President Zelenskyy work towards just peace.

“Any country that’s willing to come at that discussion by starting with President Zelenskyy’s perspective, by hearing him out, by signing on to that proposal — and I won’t speak for India and what they’re signing on to or not; that’s for the Prime Minister and his team to talk to — but we certainly welcome any nation that is willing to be helpful and to start that conversation by ascribing to President Zelenskyy’s just peace proposal and getting his perspectives,” Kirby said at the briefing.

Taking to X following the conversation, PM Modi stated, “Spoke to @POTUS @JoeBiden on phone today. We had a detailed exchange of views on various regional and global issues, including the situation in Ukraine. I reiterated India’s full support for early return of peace and stability.”

PM Modi appreciated Biden’s deep commitment to the India-US Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership. The leaders reviewed the significant progress in bilateral ties and highlighted that the India-US partnership is aimed at benefiting the people of both countries as well as the entire humanity.

During the telephone conversation, the two leaders also expressed their shared concern over the situation in Bangladesh.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

New Delhi:

Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived at Palam airport in Delhi today after concluding his two-nation visit to Poland and Ukraine.

Prime Minister Modi’s visit to Poland was the first by an Indian Prime Minister in 45 years. It was also the first Prime Ministerial visit from India to Ukraine.

During his visit to Ukraine, PM Modi and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reiterated their readiness for further cooperation in upholding principles of international law, including the UN Charter.

They agreed on the desirability of closer bilateral dialogue in this regard.

The Indian side reiterated its principled position and focus on peaceful resolution through dialogue and diplomacy, as a part of which, India has attended the Summit on Peace in Ukraine, held in Burgenstock, Switzerland, in June 2024.

The Ukrainian side welcomed such participation by India and highlighted the importance of high-level Indian participation in the next Peace Summit.

India and Ukraine signed four agreements during the visit.

During his visit to Poland, PM Modi held bilateral discussions with his counterpart Donald Tusk. The two countries decided to elevate their ties to “Strategic Partnership”.

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.

They also noted the negative impacts of the war in Ukraine with regard to global food and energy security, especially for the Global South.

In the context of this war, they shared the view that the use, or threat of use, of nuclear weapons is unacceptable.

Russia and Ukraine have been engaged in a conflict for nearly two-and-a-half years.

India and Poland also reiterated their unequivocal condemnation of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations and emphasised that no country should provide a safe haven to those who finance, plan, support or commit terrorist acts.

Both sides stressed the need for firm implementation of relevant resolutions of the UN Security Council, the UN General Assembly, as well as the implementation of the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy. They also reaffirmed on the early adoption of the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism (CCIT).

The two sides reinforced their commitment to a free, open and rules-based Indo-Pacific in accordance with the international law of the sea as reflected in UNCLOS and with full respect for the sovereignty, territorial integrity and freedom of navigation to the benefit of the maritime security and international peace and stability.
 

New Delhi:

India – one of the world’s biggest consumers of crude oil – does not have a “political strategy” that informs its purchases, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said Friday at a press conference in Kyiv, shortly after Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Ukraine leader Volodymyr Zelensky.

Responding to a question about India overtaking China in the import of Russian crude – sale of which had been sanctioned by the West following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 – Mr Jaishankar also pointed to the volatile nature of the global crude oil market.

“India is a big oil consumer… we are a big oil importer because we don’t have oil. Now, it is not like there is a political strategy to buy oil… there is an oil strategy to buy oil… there is a market strategy.”

“So the figures of where we import oil from will go up and down… it depends on the market. But definitely, I think it depends, or is decided by, a tight market… one in which big supplies, like Iran and Venezuela, who used to supply to India, are now constrained from operating freely,” he said.

“This is a factor that needs to be taken into account,” Mr Jaishankar, who has repeatedly defended India’s continuing purchase of Russian crude following the war in Ukraine, responded in Kyiv.

“We explained to Ukraine (the current) market scenario. The fact that many producers have been sanctioned makes the market very tight,” he had said earlier, in response to another question, stressing “it is in the interest of the world economy that oil prices remain reasonable and stable.”

However, analysts this morning said global oil prices remain “vulnerable to demand fluctuations” on the back of “weak manufacturing data from Europe, Asia, and the United States”.

In February too Mr Jaishankar – who has also called out Western nations for continuing to buy from Russia in the war’s early phases – reaffirmed India’s stance on buying Russian oil despite sanctions.

“What should we have done? In many cases Middle East suppliers gave priority to Europe because of higher prices. So either we would have had no energy… or we would have ended up paying a lot more because you (European nations) were paying more,” he told German daily Handelsblatt.

Mr Jaishankar then had argued that India had “in a certain way, stabilised the (global) energy market”. Indian consumers, he said, simply could not afford high prices charged by the Middle East.

READ | “Russia Never Hurt Our Interests”: S Jaishankar To German Daily

“If no one bought crude oil from Russia, and everyone bought crude oil from other countries, the prices on the energy market would have shot up even further,” he told the German publication.

Prior to the war in Ukraine, India rarely purchased Russian crude due to high freight costs. By 2023, though, Moscow was selling about 1.66 million barrels per day, up from less than 700,000 in 2022.

India – the world’s third-biggest oil importer and consumer, became the biggest buyer of seaborne Russian crude since the West halted purchases and imposed sanctions against Moscow.

India has paid for this crude in rupees, dirhams and Chinese yuan.

In May, multiple sources told Reuters Reliance Industries, the operator of the world’s biggest refining complex, had signed a one-year deal with Russia’s Rosneft to buy at least three million barrels of oil per month, with payment to be made in roubles.

READ | Reliance To Buy 3 Million Barrels Of Russian Oil Per Month: Report

The payment in roubles part was seen as key as it would allow Moscow to circumvent an additional set of sanctions against payments routed through Western banks and financial institutions.

READ | Indian Refiners Buy More US Crude Amid Tighter Russia Sanctions

The West has made several efforts to bring India on board its sanctions train; in April the United States sent officials to urge Delhi to maintain a price cap designed to limit Moscow’s profits.

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New Delhi:

India – one of the world’s biggest consumers of crude oil – does not have a “political strategy” that informs its purchases, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said Friday at a press conference in Kyiv, shortly after Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Ukraine leader Volodymyr Zelensky.

Responding to a question about India overtaking China in the import of Russian crude – sale of which had been sanctioned by the West following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 – Mr Jaishankar also pointed to the volatile nature of the global crude oil market.

“India is a big oil consumer… we are a big oil importer because we don’t have oil. Now, it is not like there is a political strategy to buy oil… there is an oil strategy to buy oil… there is a market strategy.”

“So the figures of where we import oil from will go up and down… it depends on the market. But definitely, I think it depends, or is decided by, a tight market… one in which big supplies, like Iran and Venezuela, who used to supply to India, are now constrained from operating freely,” he said.

“This is a factor that needs to be taken into account,” Mr Jaishankar, who has repeatedly defended India’s continuing purchase of Russian crude following the war in Ukraine, responded in Kyiv.

“We explained to Ukraine (the current) market scenario. The fact that many producers have been sanctioned makes the market very tight,” he had said earlier, in response to another question, stressing “it is in the interest of the world economy that oil prices remain reasonable and stable.”

However, analysts this morning said global oil prices remain “vulnerable to demand fluctuations” on the back of “weak manufacturing data from Europe, Asia, and the United States”.

In February too Mr Jaishankar – who has also called out Western nations for continuing to buy from Russia in the war’s early phases – reaffirmed India’s stance on buying Russian oil despite sanctions.

“What should we have done? In many cases Middle East suppliers gave priority to Europe because of higher prices. So either we would have had no energy… or we would have ended up paying a lot more because you (European nations) were paying more,” he told German daily Handelsblatt.

Mr Jaishankar then had argued that India had “in a certain way, stabilised the (global) energy market”. Indian consumers, he said, simply could not afford high prices charged by the Middle East.

READ | “Russia Never Hurt Our Interests”: S Jaishankar To German Daily

“If no one bought crude oil from Russia, and everyone bought crude oil from other countries, the prices on the energy market would have shot up even further,” he told the German publication.

Prior to the war in Ukraine, India rarely purchased Russian crude due to high freight costs. By 2023, though, Moscow was selling about 1.66 million barrels per day, up from less than 700,000 in 2022.

India – the world’s third-biggest oil importer and consumer, became the biggest buyer of seaborne Russian crude since the West halted purchases and imposed sanctions against Moscow.

India has paid for this crude in rupees, dirhams and Chinese yuan.

In May, multiple sources told Reuters Reliance Industries, the operator of the world’s biggest refining complex, had signed a one-year deal with Russia’s Rosneft to buy at least three million barrels of oil per month, with payment to be made in roubles.

READ | Reliance To Buy 3 Million Barrels Of Russian Oil Per Month: Report

The payment in roubles part was seen as key as it would allow Moscow to circumvent an additional set of sanctions against payments routed through Western banks and financial institutions.

READ | Indian Refiners Buy More US Crude Amid Tighter Russia Sanctions

The West has made several efforts to bring India on board its sanctions train; in April the United States sent officials to urge Delhi to maintain a price cap designed to limit Moscow’s profits.

NDTV is now available on WhatsApp channels. Click on the link to get all the latest updates from NDTV on your chat.

PM Narendra Modi is headed for his much-anticipated trip to Ukraine after wrapping up his two-day visit to Poland this morning. He is scheduled to meet the Ukrainian PM Volodymyr Zelenskyy, upon whose invite he is visiting the conflict-hit nation-state.

PM Modi’s Ukraine visit comes nearly six weeks after he visited Russia to discuss the conflict-ridden situation amid Russia Ukraine. This shall also be an Indian PM’s first visit to Ukraine.

The Official Spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs, Randhir Jaiswal posted on the social media platform X (formerly, Twitter) that PM Modi’s visit to Poland after four decades will widen and deepen India-Poland relations.

The UN secretary-general’s office said that they hope that the Indian PM’s visit to Ukraine might bring up the possibility of putting an end to the war.

Although India has yet to condemn the Russian invasion of Ukraine, PM Modi’s statement said, “As a friend and partner, we hope 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. I am confident that the visit will serve as a natural continuation of extensive contacts with the two countries and help create the foundation for stronger and more vibrant relations in the years ahead,” it further added.

The Ukrainian PM congratulated PM Modi on his election victory earlier this year. 

Here are the live updates of PM Modi’s visit to Ukraine: 

Warsaw, Poland:

A day ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s much-anticipated visit to conflict-hit Ukraine, Poland Prime Minister Donald Tusk said India could play an essential and constructive role in resolving the Russia-Ukraine war. Mr Tusk also said that PM Modi’s visit to Ukraine will be “historic”. PM Modi has expressed his concern over the ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and West Asia, asserting that India supports dialogue and diplomacy for early restoration of peace and stability. 

Poland PM also noted that PM Modi has confirmed his willingness that he is ready for a peaceful, and rightful end to war.

In a joint press meeting with PM Modi in Warsaw, Mr Tusk said, “We began with a clarification on very emotional issues. PM Modi confirmed his willingness that he is ready for peaceful, rightful and immediate end to war. We believe that India can play an essential and very constructive role. So, this announcement is very important for us. PM, in 10 hours you will visit Ukraine. We believe that your visit to Ukraine will be historic.”

PM Modi today said India firmly believes that no problem can be solved on the battlefield, adding that it is ready to provide all possible co-operation for the restoration of peace and stability in the region.

After holding wide-ranging talks with his Poland counterpart, PM Modi said, “The ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and West Asia are a matter of deep concern for all of us. India firmly believes that no problem can be solved on the battlefield.”

“The loss of innocent lives in any crisis has become the biggest challenge for the entire humanity. We support dialogue and diplomacy for early restoration of peace and stability,” he added. 

PM Modi arrived in Warsaw on Wednesday on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the strategic ties between the two countries. This is the first visit by an Indian prime minister to Poland in nearly half a century. 

In the second leg of his two-nation trip, PM Modi will be in Kyiv for around seven hours on Friday. He will leave for the Ukrainian capital onboard a train this evening and the journey will take around 10 hours. It will be the first-ever visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Ukraine.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi attends a press conference with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk at the Chancellery in Warsaw, Poland on Thursday (August 22, 2024).
| Photo Credit: Reuters

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday (August 22, 2024) voiced “deep concern” over the ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and West Asia, saying India firmly believes that no problem can be solved on the battlefield and that it supports dialogue and diplomacy for the early restoration of peace and stability.

He made the remarks in a joint press statement after his meeting with Polish counterpart Donald Tusk, during which they discussed ways to strengthen bilateral ties and decided to elevate the bilateral relationship into a strategic partnership.

Also Read: PM Modi attempts a tricky balance in Kyiv, as U.S. and Russia watch closely

“The ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and West Asia are a matter of deep concern for all of us. India firmly believes that no problem can be solved on the battlefield,” Mr. Modi said.

Mr. Modi, who will travel to Ukraine tonight at the invitation of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, said that the loss of innocent lives in any crisis has become the biggest challenge for all of humanity.

“We support dialogue and diplomacy for the early restoration of peace and stability. For this, India, along with its friendly countries, is ready to provide all possible support,” he added.

Mr. Modi thanked Prime Minister Tusk for his invaluable efforts to strengthen the India-Poland friendship, saying they are “truly commendable”.

He also thanked him for playing an important role in facilitating the evacuation of Indian students from war-torn Ukraine in 2022.

Prime Minister Modi said that India and Poland have also been moving forward in close coordination on the international stage.

“We both agree that reform of the United Nations and other international institutions is the need of the hour to face global challenges,” he said.

He also invited Polish companies to join ‘Make in India’ initiative.

“Today is a day of special significance in the relations between India and Poland. Today after forty-five years an Indian Prime Minister has visited Poland,” he said.

PM Modi arrived in Poland on Wednesday (August 21, 2024) for the first leg of his two-nation visit, during which he will also travel to the Ukrainian capital Kyiv.

His visit to Poland is the first trip by an Indian Prime Minister to the country in the past 45 years.

PM Modi received a ceremonial red carpet welcome at the Chancellery before the talks.

“A new landmark in the India-Poland partnership! PM @narendramodi was warmly received by PM @donaldtusk of Poland at the Federal Chancellery in Warsaw and accorded a ceremonial welcome. This visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Poland after 45 years will impart fresh momentum to the India-Poland partnership,” Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal posted on X.

“Finally. After 45 years! Prime Minister Narendra Modi, good to see you in Warsaw,” Mr. Tusk posted on X.

On the eve of his visit to Ukraine, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said that India was a supporter of peace in this region as he reiterated that “this is not an era of war” and any conflict should be resolved through diplomacy and dialogue.

Addressing the Indian diaspora in the Polish capital, Mr. Modi also said that India had a policy for decades to maintain distance from all the countries. However, the policy of today’s India is to remain close to all the countries, he added, amid chants of Modi-Modi.

“India is the land of Lord Buddha’s legacy. Therefore, India is an advocate of permanent peace in this region. India’s concept is clear – this is not an era of war… India believes in dialogue and diplomacy to resolve conflict,” Mr. Modi told the gathering.

His remarks comes ahead of his trip to Kyiv – the first visit by an Indian prime minister to Ukraine since the country became independent in 1991.

Mr. Modi, who is visiting Ukraine at the invitation of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, has said that he will share with the Ukrainian leader perspectives on 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.

“Today’s India wants to connect with all. Today’s India talks about the development of all. Today’s India is with all and thinks about the interests of all,” Mr. Modi said.

He said that if any country faces a crisis, India is the first country to extend a helping hand. “When Covid came, India said – Humanity first. We sent medicines and vaccines to more than 150 countries of the world. Wherever there is an earthquake or any disaster, India has only one mantra – Humanity first,” he said.

Mr. Modi said India’s entire focus is on quality manufacturing and quality manpower, which are very crucial for the global supply chain. “In Budget 2024, we have focused a lot on ensuring youth skilling and job creation, and we want to turn India into a centre of education, research and innovation,” he said.

Mr. Modi recalled that Poland was one of the first countries to assist when Gujarat was hit by an earthquake two decades ago.

“People of Poland have given a lot of love and respect to Jam Saheb and his family members, and the Good Maharaja Square is a testimony of that. Today, I have visited the Dobry Maharaja Memorial and Kolhapur Memorial. On this occasion, I want to announce that India has decided to launch the Jam Saheb Memorial Youth Action programme,” he said.

Under this programme, India will invite 20 Polish youths annually to visit India.

Mr. Modi said he also paid tribute at the Monte Cassino memorial, which reminds the sacrifice of thousands of Indian soldiers. “This is a proof of how Indians have performed their duty in every corner of the world,” he said.

The Prime Minister said that India of the 21st century is moving ahead on the path of development while priding itself on its values and heritage.

“We Indians are known for our efforts, actions and empathy. Wherever we go, we Indians can be seen making maximum efforts. Be it entrepreneurship, caregivers or our service sector, Indians are bringing laurels to the country through their efforts,” he said.

Mr. Modi said that India and Poland have a lot of similarities. “One of them is democracy. India is not just the mother of democracy, but also a participative and vibrant democracy. People of India have a lot of confidence in democracy, and this was evident in the recent (Lok Sabha) elections,” he said, highlighting that these polls were the biggest elections in history.

“Recently, elections were also held in the European Union in which 180 million voters participated. In India, this number was 640 million,” he said.

Mr. Modi said he has promised that in his third term, India will become the third largest economy in the world.

“NASSCOM estimates that India will become a trillion dollar economy by the end of this decade due to its digital infrastructure,” he told the crowd.

He said that India’s wisdom is global and its vision is global. “We have considered the entire world as one family and this is visible in the policies and decisions of today’s India,” he said.

He said that balance between economy and ecology is India’s priority today.

“It is only India which is moving ahead with both the resolutions of a developed nation and Net zero nation together,” he said.

He also said that India will soon establish its space station.

Mr. Modi thanked the people of Poland for the warm welcome that he received. “Over the past one week, a lot has been discussed in the media about Poland and its people. It was also said that this is the first time in 45 years that an Indian PM is visiting Poland,” he said.

He also thanked the Polish government for support during operation Ganga, especially by giving visa waivers to Indians.

Mr. Modi also praised the Polish Kabaddi team for its achievements.

This is not an era of war, reiterated Prime Minister Narendra Modi while addressing the Indian community in Poland, two days before his much-anticipated visit to Ukraine where he has pledged to campaign for a peaceful resolution of Russia’s invasion.

“India is an advocate of permanent peace in this region. Our stand is very clear – this isn’t an era of war. This is the time to come together against those challenges which threaten humanity. Therefore, India believes in diplomacy and dialogues,” PM Modi said.

PM Modi, 73, will be the first Indian Prime Minister to make a Ukraine trip and is the first in 45 years to travel to Poland – Kyiv’s close ally and a key transit for foreign leaders heading to its war-torn neighbour.

PM Modi, who is visiting Ukraine at the invitation of President Volodymyr Zelensky on August 23, has said that he will 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.

In September 2022, the Prime Minister made the “not an era of war” comment for the first time while talking with Russia’s President Vladimir Putin during an SCO summit. On the sidelines of the SCO summit in Samarkand on September 16, PM Modi said, “Today’s era isn’t of war” while emphasising the need to find ways to address the problems of food, fuel security and fertilisers.

Before his departure for Poland, PM Modi said, “As a friend and partner, we hope for an early return of peace and stability in the region.” 

The Prime Minister arrived in Poland on a two-day visit where he laid wreaths at Jam Saheb of Nawanagar Memorial and Kolhapur Memorial in Warsaw, two places that commemorate the shared history between India and Poland.