New Delhi: While expressing “deep concern” over conflicts in Ukraine and West Asia, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday, August 22, underlined India’s view that no solution could be found on a battlefield.
Addressing a joint press conference with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk in Warsaw, Modi said that India supports dialogue and diplomacy to ensure speedy restoration of peace and stability.
“The ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and West Asia are a matter of deep concern for all of us. India firmly believes that no problem can be solved on the battlefield,” Modi said, flanked by Tusk.
The Indian PM’s remarks came ahead of his visit to Ukraine, where he will travel by train from Poland.
He further said, “We support dialogue and diplomacy for the early restoration of peace and stability. For this, India, along with its friendly countries, is ready to provide all possible support.”
The Polish Prime Minister said that he was “very glad” to hear Modi’s word about the need for a quick end to the Ukraine war. “We are both convinced that India can play a very important role… which is important because in a dozen or so hours the Prime Minister will be visiting Kiev,” said Tusk.
Cieszę się, że dane mi było spotkać się z drogim Panem Premierem @donaldtusk. Podczas rozmowy podsumowaliśmy całość stosunków indyjsko-polskich. Szczególnie zależy nam na pogłębieniu relacji w dziedzinie przetwórstwa spożywczego, infrastruktury miejskiej, energii odnawialnej oraz… pic.twitter.com/ALDZVuokZK
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 22, 2024
The joint statement issued after the talks said that both leaders “reiterated the need for a comprehensive, just, and lasting peace in line with international law, consistent with the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, including respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity”.
Further, the two sides also noted the negative economic consequences of the Ukraine war.
Asserting that the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons was unacceptable, the joint statement noted, “They underscored the importance of upholding international law, and in line with the UN Charter, reiterated that all states must refrain from the threat of or use of force against the territorial integrity and sovereignty or political independence of any state”.
During the first visit of an Indian prime minister to Poland in 45 years, both countries agreed to elevate the bilateral relationship into a strategic partnership.
Modi thanked his counterpart, Tusk, for his efforts to forge a strong India-Poland relationship, calling them “truly commendable”.
The visiting leader thanked the host leader for helping in the evacuation of Indian students stranded in Ukraine, when the Russia-Ukraine war broke out in February 2022, through Poland.
Exuding confidence in India-Poland ties, Modi said the countries have been moving forward in close coordination on the international stage. “We both agree that reform of the United Nations and other international institutions is the need of the hour to face global challenges,” he said.
Modi appealed to Polish companies to participate in the ‘Make in India’ initiative.
He went on to add, “Today is a day of special significance in the relations between India and Poland. Today after 45 years an Indian Prime Minister has visited Poland.”
After Poland, Modi is set to travel to Ukraine tonight (August 22) at the invitation of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Modi’s visit to Ukraine comes nearly six weeks after he visited Russia. His visit to Moscow came under severe criticism from the Western capitals, particularly after images of Modi hugging Vladimir Putin went viral on the very day when Russian airstrikes killed children at a hospital in Ukraine.
India has consistently refrained from directly criticising Russia for the invasion of Ukraine and has abstained from UN resolutions condemning Moscow. However, it has sought to balance its stance by emphasising the need for peaceful resolution of armed conflicts, the prevention of civilian casualties, and the unobstructed delivery of humanitarian aid.
