Warsaw:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi underlined the need for dialogue and diplomacy to resolve disputes between nations again on Thursday, with specific reference to Russia’s war on Ukraine and military tension between Iran and Israel in West Asia – rather than allowing it to descend into military conflict. The message comes hours before his visit to Ukraine — he is expected to meet the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kiev tomorrow.
“The conflicts in Ukraine and West Asia are concerning, but the answer to any problem is not in the battlefield… we support dialogue and diplomacy,” he said in a joint statement with his Polish counterpart, Donald Tusk.
This was the second time during his visit to Poland that PM Modi made a reference to the need for dialogue to resolve conflict.
His “not an era of war” message was encapsulated in his address to the Indian community in Poland whom he met earlier.
“India is an advocate of permanent peace in this region. Our stand is very clear – this isn’t an era of war. This is the time to come together against those challenges which threaten humanity. Therefore, India believes in diplomacy and dialogues,” PM Modi had said.
The Prime Minister, who is visiting Ukraine at the invitation of President Zelensky, said he will share perspectives on a peaceful resolution of the conflict with the Ukrainian leader.
His visit to Kyiv comes nearly six weeks after his high-profile trip to Moscow which triggered criticism from the US and some of its Western allies.
In his joint statement with Mr Tusk today, PM Modi also thanked Poland for helping evacuate Indian students stranded in Ukraine after war broke out in February 2022.
The Prime Minister also pitched for increased and improved trade and strategic ties with the European nation, saying, “We have decided to convert our ties to a strategic partnership. We want Polish firms to be involved in make-in-India projects.