NEW DELHI, Sep 2: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will undertake a three-day official visit to Ukraine and Poland from September 3 to 5, with the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict and regional security expected to feature prominently in his engagements.
According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Jaishankar will begin his visit in Ukraine, where he is scheduled to hold bilateral consultations with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha. He will then travel to Poland for talks with Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski.
The MEA said the visit will focus on strengthening India’s bilateral relations with both countries while providing an opportunity to exchange views on regional developments and matters of mutual interest.
India Continues to Back Dialogue
Jaishankar’s visit comes as fighting between Russia and Ukraine continues, with India maintaining its longstanding position that the conflict should be resolved through dialogue and diplomacy.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has repeatedly called on Moscow and Kyiv to pursue a peaceful settlement. During his visit to Kyiv in August 2024, Modi told Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy that Russia and Ukraine should engage directly and work towards ending the conflict without further delay.
More recently, Modi reiterated India’s peace message during his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Bishkek.
“Every day spent on war pushes humanity backwards,” Modi said, stressing that the world needs to move from prolonged conflict towards lasting peace.
Addressing the SCO summit the following day, the Prime Minister again maintained that dialogue and diplomacy remain the way forward for resolving international conflicts.
Security Concerns Add Significance
Jaishankar’s Ukraine visit assumes additional significance following the death of an Indian national in Kyiv earlier this week in a Russian strike, an incident that has raised concerns in New Delhi.
India has also been closely monitoring attacks involving merchant vessels in the Black Sea in recent weeks, adding another layer of security concerns to the minister’s discussions in the region.
The visit is expected to provide an opportunity for India to assess developments on the ground, reinforce its diplomatic engagement with Ukraine and Poland, and discuss wider regional and international issues.