August 22nd 2024.
Ahead of his highly-anticipated trip to war-torn Ukraine, Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his firm belief that no problem can be solved through military action. He emphasized the importance of cooperation in restoring peace and stability to the region and assured India's readiness to support this effort.
Modi's statement came after a productive meeting with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, where the two leaders elevated India-Poland relations to a strategic partnership and solidified a social security agreement to facilitate the mobility of skilled workers.
In a joint statement, the two leaders emphasized the importance of upholding international law and the need for all states to refrain from using force or threatening the sovereignty of any other state. Modi reiterated his concern for ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, acknowledging the loss of innocent lives as a major challenge for humanity.
He also emphasized India's stance on promoting dialogue and diplomacy for the restoration of peace and stability, and expressed their willingness to provide support along with other friendly nations.
After concluding his visit to Warsaw, Modi embarked on a 10-hour train journey to the Ukrainian capital Kyiv, under tight security measures. During his seven-hour stay in Kyiv, Modi held talks with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, focusing primarily on finding solutions to the conflict in Ukraine.
Tusk, in his remarks to the media, expressed his satisfaction with Modi's commitment to a peaceful and swift resolution to the war. He also praised India's potential to play a positive role in this matter.
India has yet to condemn Russia's invasion of Ukraine, which has raised concerns, especially since Modi's recent visit to Moscow. However, the Indian Ministry of External Affairs Secretary Tanmaya Lal stated that there were discussions on the situation in Ukraine during the talks between the two Prime Ministers, and Modi reiterated India's readiness to work with other countries to resolve the conflict.
The joint statement issued after Modi and Tusk's talks expressed their deep concern over the ongoing war in Ukraine and its devastating humanitarian consequences. They called for a comprehensive and just resolution in accordance with international law and the principles of the UN Charter, including respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity.
The two leaders also acknowledged the negative impact of the war on global food and energy security, particularly for developing countries. They also shared the view that the use or threat of nuclear weapons is unacceptable in this context.
Furthermore, as the world's two largest democracies, India and the EU have a common interest in ensuring security, prosperity, and sustainable development in a multi-polar world. Therefore, they reaffirmed their commitment to deepen their strategic partnership, which would have a positive impact globally.
They also emphasized the importance of a free, open, and rules-based Indo-Pacific, in accordance with international law and respect for maritime security, sovereignty, and freedom of navigation. Modi also expressed his gratitude to Poland for facilitating the evacuation of Indian students from Ukraine in 2022, when the conflict began.
Tusk expressed Poland's interest in expanding defense cooperation with India and supporting its efforts towards modernizing its military. Modi also highlighted the strong defense cooperation between the two countries and their mutual trust, with plans to further strengthen this collaboration.
Both leaders agreed on the need for reform in the United Nations and other international institutions to address global challenges. They also acknowledged terrorism as a major threat and the importance of cooperation between countries like India and Poland, which value humanity.
They also identified climate change as a shared priority and pledged to work together towards a greener future by leveraging their respective capabilities. Tusk also mentioned that Poland will assume the presidency of the EU in January 2025, expressing confidence that this will further strengthen the relationship between India and the EU.
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