PM Modi’s visit to Ukraine reaffirms India’s strategic neutrality in a polarised world

The recent visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Ukraine, occurring at a time when the global environment is highly polarised, signifies India’s unwavering commitment to strategic autonomy in its foreign policy. Modi’s historic Ukraine visit, coming just a month after his visit to Russia, has also asserted that India is an active player that has the capacity to influence global political outcomes amidst competing global alliances and geopolitical tensions.

Modi’s visit to Ukraine on August 23, 2024, was the first-ever visit by an Indian Prime Minister to the country since diplomatic relations were established between the two in 1992. The significance of the visit was not merely a bilateral engagement but a clear signal on the part of India that it is ready to engage with both the conflicting sides.

Modi reiterated India’s principled position in Kyiv that dialogue and diplomacy should be the means employed to end the conflict.