Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Poland and was welcomed by his Polish counterpart Donald Tusk before heading to Kyiv for high-level discussions. Modi and Tusk held talks on security, Russia’s involvement in the war in Ukraine, and enhancing bilateral relations. They were scheduled to issue statements, and later Modi was set to meet with Poland’s President Andrzej Duda.
Before his trip, Modi stated that Poland plays a crucial role as India’s main economic partner in Central Europe. The two leaders were expected to finalize bilateral strategic cooperation agreements focusing on cybersecurity and defense.
Located on NATO’s eastern border, Poland has been actively supporting Ukraine politically, humanitarianly, and in defense. Ukraine criticized Modi for his recent visit to Moscow, where he met with President Vladimir Putin and hugged him. Modi has refrained from criticizing Russia while advocating for a peaceful resolution to the conflict in Ukraine.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed disappointment over Modi’s actions, describing them as detrimental to peace efforts. Modi’s visit to Poland is also significant as it marks 70 years of official bilateral relations between India and Warsaw.
Trade between the two countries has been on the rise, with the total value increasing from $1.95 billion to $5.72 billion between 2013 and 2023, with India’s exports playing a significant role. Earlier, in 2009, then-Indian President Pratibha Patil visited Poland, while Tusk visited India in 2010 during his first term as prime minister.
On the agenda for Friday, Modi is scheduled to travel to Kyiv for a meeting with President Zelenskyy.
