Warsaw: On Wednesday, ahead of his “historic” trip to war-torn Ukraine, Prime Minister Narendra Modi echoed his earlier stance on dialogue and diplomacy for the return of peace in Ukraine. He said India supports peace in this region and reiterated that “we are not in an era of war” and any conflict must be resolved through diplomacy and dialogue.
Addressing the Indian diaspora in the Polish capital, Modi also said that for decades India has had a policy of keeping distance from all countries. However, India’s current policy is to stay close to all countries, he added, amid Modi-Modi chants.
“India is the land of Lord Buddha’s legacy. Therefore, India is an advocate of permanent peace in this region. India’s concept is clear: this is not an era of war… India believes in dialogue and diplomacy to resolve conflicts,” Modi said at the meeting.
His comments come ahead of his trip to kyiv, the first visit by an Indian prime minister to Ukraine since the country gained independence in 1991.
Modi, who is visiting Ukraine at the invitation of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, has said he will share with the Ukrainian leader perspectives on peaceful resolution of the ongoing conflict. His visit to kyiv comes nearly six weeks after his high-profile trip to Moscow, which triggered criticism from the United States and some of its Western allies.
“Today’s India wants to connect with everyone. Today’s India talks about the development of everyone. Today’s India is with everyone and thinks about the interests of everyone,” Modi said.
He said that if any country faces a crisis, India is the first country to which it offers a helping hand. “When Covid came, India said: humanity first. We sent medicines and vaccines to more than 150 countries in the world.
Wherever there is an earthquake or any disaster, India has only one mantra: humanity first,” he said.
‘We will share perspectives on peaceful solution’: PM Modi
Before leaving for the Central European nation, the Prime Minister said he looked forward to the opportunity to strengthen bilateral cooperation and share perspectives on a peaceful solution to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
“Today I begin an official visit to the Republic of Poland and Ukraine. I will visit Ukraine at the invitation of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. I look forward to the opportunity to build on previous talks with President Zelenskyy on strengthening bilateral cooperation and to share perspectives on the peaceful resolution of the current conflict in Ukraine. As a friend and partner, we look forward to an early return of peace and stability in the region,” he said shortly before leaving for Poland.
It is worth mentioning that the Prime Minister is scheduled to meet with President Zelensky in kyiv, where he is expected to emphasize the return to the negotiating table amid the fact that the war has already killed hundreds of thousands of people in the past 30 months.
What PM Modi said about Poland
Modi said that if any country faces a crisis, India is the first country to which it offers a helping hand. “When Covid came, India said – humanity first. We sent medicines and vaccines to over 150 countries in the world. Wherever there is an earthquake or any disaster, India has only one mantra – humanity first,” he said. Modi said that India’s entire focus is on quality manufacturing and manpower, which are very crucial for the global supply chain. “In Budget 2024, we have put a lot of focus on ensuring youth skilling and job creation, and we want to make India a hub for education, research and innovation,” he said.
Modi recalled that Poland was one of the first countries to come to the aid when Gujarat was hit by an earthquake two decades ago. “The Polish people have shown a lot of love and respect for Jam Saheb and his family members and the Bom Maharaja Square is a testimony to that. Today, I visited the memorial of Maharaja Dobry and the memorial in Kolhapur. On this occasion, I would like to announce that India has decided to launch the Youth Action Programme in Memory of Jam Saheb,” he said.
Under this programme, India will invite 20 Polish youth every year to visit the country. Modi said he also paid homage at the Monte Cassino memorial, which commemorates the sacrifice of thousands of Indian soldiers. “It is a testament to how Indians have done their duty in every corner of the world,” he said. The Prime Minister asserted that India of the 21st century is moving forward on the path of development while taking pride in its values and heritage.
“We Indians are known for our efforts, actions and empathy. Wherever we go, we are seen putting in maximum efforts. Be it in the business field, caregiving or service field, Indians are bringing laurels to the country through their efforts,” he said.
(With contributions from the agency)
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