Prime Minister Narendra Modi is currently in the midst of his two-day state visit to Poland, becoming the first Indian leader to visit the Central European country in 45 years. After concluding his engagements in Poland, he will embark on another historic visit to Ukraine at the invitation of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. It will be the first visit by an Indian prime minister to Ukraine after establishing diplomatic relations in 1992.
However, instead of flying to kyiv, PM Modi will embark on a 20-hour journey from the Polish border aboard Train Force One, a luxury train from Poland. PM Modi will embark on the train journey for his approximately seven-hour visit to the Ukrainian capital, where he will meet top leaders of the embattled country to deepen defence cooperation.
What’s so special about Train Force One?
Train Force One is a specially designed high-security train offering a comfortable journey around kyiv, with luxurious amenities and executive-level work and relaxation facilities. It features wood-panelled cabins equipped for both work and leisure, including a spacious meeting table, a comfortable sofa, a wall-mounted TV and comfortable beds.
Originally built in 2014 to cater to tourists visiting Crimea, these luxury carriages were repurposed following Russia’s annexation of the peninsula to safely transport world leaders and VIPs through the conflict-ridden region. They also feature armoured windows, surveillance systems, a secure communication network and a dedicated team of security personnel.
PM Modi is not the only leader who has travelled to Ukraine on this train. World leaders like US President Joe Biden, his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni had travelled via the same route and means amid security concerns due to the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine.
Why is PM Modi travelling on Train Force One?
The Prime Minister’s decision to travel to kyiv by luxury train rather than by plane was made in view of growing security concerns due to the ongoing conflict. All airports in Ukraine are currently closed because the war-torn country has been locked in a years-long battle with Russia. Therefore, it was decided that the train would be the safest option.
PM Modi will travel by train for nearly ten hours to reach kyiv from the Polish border. The time will be the same when he returns to the Polish border. Before leaving New Delhi, PM Modi said that he looked forward to the opportunity to strengthen bilateral cooperation and share perspectives on a peaceful resolution of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
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