PM Modi holds security, trade talks with Poland’s Donald Tusk en route to war-torn Ukraine
The Hindu
Prime Minister Modi meets with Polish and Ukrainian leaders to discuss security, trade, and bilateral cooperation agreements.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi was greeted on Thursday (August 22, 2024) by his Polish counterpart Donald Tusk before heading to Kyiv for top-level meetings.
Mr. Modi and Mr. Tusk met for talks on security, the war on Ukraine by India's strategic partner Russia, and invigorating bilateral ties. They were expected to make statements, and later the Indian leader is to meet with Poland's President Andrzej Duda.
Ahead of his visit, Mr. Modi said Poland was India's key economy partner in Central Europe.
The two leaders are expected to sign bilateral strategic cooperation agreements covering cybersecurity and the defence sector.
Sitting on the eastern flank of NATO and the European Union, Poland is concerned about the two-year-old war across its eastern border. It's offered political, humanitarian and defense support to Ukraine.
Kyiv chastised Mr. Modi for a visit to Moscow last month, during which he met and hugged President Vladimir Putin. Modi has avoided condemning Russia while emphasizing a peaceful settlement to the war in Ukraine.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky described the meeting as a “huge disappointment and a devastating blow to peace efforts.” He also chided Mr. Modi for hugging Mr. Putin during their meeting.