After the hug with Putin: Modi meets Zelenskyj

India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi has met Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyj. On site in Kiev, he promises that India will contribute with humanitarian aid to Ukraine.

» Updated: September 07 2024

» Published: August 23 2024

After the hug with Putin: Modi meets Zelenskyj
Photo: Indiens regeringskansli via AP/TT

The meeting with Zelenskyj, which takes place the day after Modi's visit to Poland, began with the two visiting a memorial site for children who lost their lives in the war. Thereafter, they sat down for a meeting where Modi promised humanitarian support to Ukraine.

Regardless of what kind of help is required from a humanitarian perspective, India will always stand by your side and will go beyond the ordinary to support you, he says.

Hugs

Assessors predicted before the meeting that it would be chilly – after Modi recently hugged Russia's President Vladimir Putin in Moscow. But in a video that Volodymyr Zelenskyj published on X, he is also seen shaking hands and hugging the Indian leader.

This is the first time an Indian Prime Minister visits Ukraine.

Zelenskyj's chief of staff Andrij Jermak calls Modi's visit historic and says that Ukraine expects India to play a role in ending the war and achieving a "just peace".

Modi has not condemned Russia's invasion of Ukraine, but has repeatedly spoken about the need for a solution to the conflict and presented himself as a potential peacemaker.

We were not neutral from day one – we have chosen a side, and we stand for peace, he says.

Wants Dialogue

A diplomatic breakthrough, however, seems far away, regardless of how one views Ukraine's incursion into Russian territory last week.

According to Zelenskyj, "a number of documents" are being signed in connection with today's meeting. The President has previously directed sharp criticism towards Modi for his seemingly warm meeting with Putin in July, which took place hours after a Russian missile hit a children's hospital in Kiev and killed nearly 40 people.

Before Friday's meeting, Modi and Zelenskyj last met during the G7 meeting in Italy in June. Even then, Modi is said to have emphasized the importance of dialogue and diplomacy in relation to the war.

Tags

TTT
By TTThis article has been altered and translated by Sweden Herald

More news

Guinea Pardons Ex-Dictator Camara After
1 MIN READ

Guinea Pardons Ex-Dictator Camara After Arena Massacre Sentence

Denmark Criticizes US VP Vance's
1 MIN READ

Denmark Criticizes US VP Vance's Remarks on Greenland Visit

US Expands Airstrikes in Yemen
2 MIN READ

US Expands Airstrikes in Yemen Targeting Houthi-Controlled Areas

FDA Vaccine Chief Resigns, Cites
1 MIN READ

FDA Vaccine Chief Resigns, Cites Kennedy's Misinformation

16 Maoist Rebels Killed in
1 MIN READ

16 Maoist Rebels Killed in Ongoing Clashes with Indian Forces

Greenland's Jørgen Boassen Faces Backlash,
2 MIN READ

Greenland's Jørgen Boassen Faces Backlash, Supports US Ties

Football Fan Discovers Sensitive UK
2 MIN READ

Football Fan Discovers Sensitive UK Military Documents in Trash Bag

Rescue Efforts Intensify as Voices
3 MIN READ

Rescue Efforts Intensify as Voices Heard in Myanmar Earthquake Rubble

Columbia University President Steps Down
1 MIN READ

Columbia University President Steps Down After Funding Agreement

Utah Enacts Ban on Rainbow
1 MIN READ

Utah Enacts Ban on Rainbow Flags in Schools and Government Buildings

Genre image
1 MIN READ

Russian Drone Attack on Dnipro Leaves Four Dead, Many Injured

Yemen's Huthi Movement Accuses US
1 MIN READ

Yemen's Huthi Movement Accuses US of Airstrikes on Sanaa

Damascus Lifts Alcohol Ban in
1 MIN READ

Damascus Lifts Alcohol Ban in Christian Quarters After Protests

South Sudan's Vice President Riek
1 MIN READ

South Sudan's Vice President Riek Machar Placed Under House Arrest

Trump and Canada's Carney Report
2 MIN READ

Trump and Canada's Carney Report Productive Talks on US-Canada Relations

Ukraine Recovers 909 Soldiers' Remains
1 MIN READ

Ukraine Recovers 909 Soldiers' Remains from Russian Conflict

Frederiksen Calls Vance's Criticism of
2 MIN READ

Frederiksen Calls Vance's Criticism of Denmark Unfair During Greenland Visit

Greenland's New Government Aims for
2 MIN READ

Greenland's New Government Aims for Stability and Unity

Bangkok Skyscraper Collapse Caught on
1 MIN READ

Bangkok Skyscraper Collapse Caught on Camera in 30 Seconds

Denmark Proposes Defense Pact with
2 MIN READ

Denmark Proposes Defense Pact with US Amid Diplomatic Tensions

Netanyahu Warns of Renewed Strikes
2 MIN READ

Netanyahu Warns of Renewed Strikes on Beirut After Ceasefire Breach

Myanmar Earthquake Adds to Struggles
2 MIN READ

Myanmar Earthquake Adds to Struggles in War-Torn Nation

Seismologist Warns of Severe Impact
1 MIN READ

Seismologist Warns of Severe Impact After Myanmar Earthquake

Russian Strikes Hit Ukrainian Energy
1 MIN READ

Russian Strikes Hit Ukrainian Energy Sites as Ceasefire Talks Falter

Swedes in Bangkok Share Earthquake
3 MIN READ

Swedes in Bangkok Share Earthquake Fears as City Grapples with Aftershocks

Istanbul Mayor's Lawyer Arrested in
1 MIN READ

Istanbul Mayor's Lawyer Arrested in Turkey, Sparking Outcry

Myanmar Earthquake: Over 150 Dead,
2 MIN READ

Myanmar Earthquake: Over 150 Dead, Thousands Feared Lost

US Vice President Visits Greenland
2 MIN READ

US Vice President Visits Greenland Base as Tensions Simmer

Greenlanders Anxious Over US Interest
3 MIN READ

Greenlanders Anxious Over US Interest as Trump Sparks Debate

US VP Visit to Greenland
2 MIN READ

US VP Visit to Greenland Base Sparks Tension and Uncertainty

Canada's New PM Carney Declares
1 MIN READ

Canada's New PM Carney Declares Shift in US Relations

Seized Superyacht Linked to Money
1 MIN READ

Seized Superyacht Linked to Money Laundering Fetches 108 Million

Rubio Warns Venezuela Against Aggression
1 MIN READ

Rubio Warns Venezuela Against Aggression Towards Guyana

Judge Orders Preservation of Leaked
1 MIN READ

Judge Orders Preservation of Leaked Chat on Yemen Discussions

King Charles Hospitalized for Observation
1 MIN READ

King Charles Hospitalized for Observation Due to Treatment Side Effects

Iran Replies to Trump's Nuclear
1 MIN READ

Iran Replies to Trump's Nuclear Energy Letter via Oman

Belgium Probes 40+ Drink-Spiking Rape
1 MIN READ

Belgium Probes 40+ Drink-Spiking Rape Cases in Kortrijk Bars

Denmark Eases Health Criteria to
1 MIN READ

Denmark Eases Health Criteria to Boost Defense Recruitment

Four Parties Form New Coalition
1 MIN READ

Four Parties Form New Coalition in Greenland's Government

Prosecutors Seek Seven-Year Sentence for
1 MIN READ

Prosecutors Seek Seven-Year Sentence for Sarkozy in Libyan Funds Case