The visit comes just weeks after the Indian Prime Minister met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow, a trip that was strongly criticised by Zelenskyy.
ADVERTISEMENTIndian Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Kyiv on Friday, where he will meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
The visit will focus on boosting economic ties and cooperation in defence, science and technology.
However, analysts say the visit could also be an attempt to have India strike a more neutral stance after what has been seen as a lean toward Russia.
Ukrainian media reported that Modi met with representatives of the Indian diaspora after arriving. The crowd gathered around the him cheering “Modi, Modi, Modi.”
The chief of Ukraine’s Presidential Office, Andriy Yermak, called the visit “historic” and said India could play a role in ending the war between Russia and Ukraine with a “just peace,” referring to Ukraine’s peace formula.
“We respect India as a very big democracy in the world and a powerful country,” Yermak said. “But now it’s necessary to say who is the aggressor and who is the victim.”
Before arriving in Ukraine, Modi urged diplomatic efforts to end the war during a visit to Poland on Thursday, pledging India’s support and saying that no conflict can be solved on a battlefield.
Modi's arrival came a month and a half after Zelenskyy criticised his visit to Moscow in July, when he met with Putin on the day Russian missiles struck across Ukraine, killing scores of people.
Zelenskyy described that meeting as a “huge disappointment and a devastating blow to peace efforts.” He also chided Modi for hugging Putin during their meeting.
India has avoided condemning Russia’s invasion and instead has urged Russia and Ukraine to resolve the conflict through dialogue and diplomacy.
Modi’s visit is the first by an Indian prime minister to Ukraine since the two countries established diplomatic relations over 30 years ago.