Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to visit Kyiv in August, marking his first trip to the war-torn country since the Russia-Ukraine conflict began in 2022. The visit, expected to occur in the third week of August, likely on August 23, is currently being finalized, according to multiple sources within Delhi’s diplomatic circles. Earlier this year, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky extended an invitation to PM Modi during a telephone conversation.

This month has seen significant high-level exchanges between the two countries. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, along with National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and his Ukrainian counterpart Andriy Yermak, engaged in telephonic discussions.

Following these discussions, EAM Jaishankar shared on social media that the talks focused on “further developing our bilateral relationship.” PM Modi also met President Zelensky in June in Italy on the sidelines of the G7 summit, where they discussed the ongoing situation in Ukraine. During this meeting, the Indian PM emphasized the importance of “dialogue and diplomacy” and reiterated India’s commitment to supporting a peaceful resolution.

This upcoming visit will be the second in-person meeting between the two leaders since the conflict began, the first being last year during the G7 meeting in Japan. Due to the closure of Ukrainian airspace, world leaders traveling to Ukraine have been using routes through Poland. It is anticipated that PM Modi will also travel via Poland and is expected to meet with Polish leadership, including PM Donald Tusk, before continuing to Ukraine.