Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has arrived in Kyiv, marking a historic first visit by an Indian leader to Ukraine since its independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. Modi is scheduled to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and address the media at a joint press conference.
This visit holds significant diplomatic weight for Ukraine, which has been actively seeking to strengthen ties with countries in the Global South as it strives for a fair resolution to the ongoing conflict with Russia. Modi's arrival in Kyiv follows his recent trip to Moscow in July, underscoring India's unique position in the geopolitical landscape.
The visit coincides with reports of substantial losses suffered by Russian forces in the Kursk region, as Ukrainian troops continue their offensive operations. Ukraine's military has claimed that its forces inflicted "tangible" losses on Russian troops defending against a cross-border assault in Kursk.
President Zelensky, who recently visited Ukraine's Sumy region, has been closely monitoring the situation. The Sumy region was the launch point for a surprise incursion into Russia's Kursk region on August 6. During his visit, Zelensky met with his top military commander, Oleksandr Syrskyi, to discuss the ongoing offensive nearly two weeks after it began.
Modi's visit is seen as a crucial moment in Ukraine's ongoing efforts to build alliances and garner international support as it navigates the complex dynamics of the conflict with Russia.