Ukraine's Presidential Office confirmed on August 19 the upcoming visit of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Ukraine, marking the first visit of an Indian prime minister to the country in the history of bilateral relations. Modi will likely strike a balancing act between historically warm and economically lucrative relations with Russia and appeasement of Western allies backing Ukraine.

Modi's arrival is scheduled for August 23, according to a statement from Ukraine's Presidential Office. The visit, first reported by Indian media in July, will include talks between Modi and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy. The discussions will focus on bilateral and multilateral cooperation. Zelenskiy confirmed that Modi's visit would include the signing of "a number of documents," further solidifying the diplomatic ties between Ukraine and India. Modi will also visit Poland on the same trip.

In June, Modi met with Zelenskiy in Italy during the G7 summit, where they discussed the ongoing situation in Ukraine. Modi reiterated India's stance on the importance of "dialogue and diplomacy" and assured that India would continue to support a peaceful resolution to the conflict.

This visit comes shortly after Modi's first visit to Russia since the onset of the war, where he held talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin and agreed on energy and commodity supply deals. Modi also pressed Putin for delivery of the advanced S-400 missile system that India has ordered to defend its border with China. Indian is also interested in Russian nuclear power technology. The meeting between Modi and Putin, which included a widely publicised hug, was sharply criticised by Zelenskiy.

Modi’s visit coincided with a strike on a hospital in Kyiv, prompting Modi to deliver an implicit, public rebuke to Putin, expressing his pain and terror over the death of innocent children. He told Putin in televised remarks that the death of innocent children was painful and terrifying, a day after a lethal strike on a children's hospital in Kyiv.

"Whether it is war, conflict or a terrorist attack, any person who believes in humanity is pained when there is loss of lives," Modi said. "But even in that, when innocent children are killed, the heart bleeds and that pain is very terrifying."

New Delhi has tried to stay on the fence, retaining good relations and tightening commercial ties with Russia, but at the same time maintain good relations with the West as part of India’s “sovereign autonomy” foreign policy. Modi was also one of the few democratically elected leaders to congratulate Putin on his re-election earlier this year and abstained from the UN votes to condemn Russia’s invasion of Ukraine after the war started in 2022.

India has consistently called for a diplomatic solution to Russia's war against Ukraine while simultaneously fostering close economic ties with Moscow. Since the imposition of Western sanctions on Russia, India has become one of the leading buyers of Russian oil, although this trade is increasingly threatened by US sanctions. Modi reiterated India's stance that the conflict should be resolved through dialogue and diplomacy, stating, "solutions are not possible on the battleground."

India, which has avoided directly condemning Russia's invasion of Ukraine, has urged both sides to resolve their differences through dialogue. Indian Foreign Ministry official Tanmaya Lal described the visit as "landmark," noting that it will focus on "the ongoing conflict in Ukraine."

"India has consistently advocated for diplomacy and dialogue to reach a negotiated settlement," Lal said.

Russia has become a significant supplier of discounted crude oil to India, which has risen from a few percent of Indian’s imports of crude to almost half, providing a much-needed market for Moscow while helping India save billions of dollars.

In June 2024, India raised its share of oil imports from Russia to 45% of its 4.5mn barrels per day of oil imports, up from 41% in May. 

The Indian leader has maintained a delicate balance between India's historically warm ties with Russia and its growing security partnerships with Western nations, particularly as a counterbalance to regional rival China.

However, the war has also impacted India directly. New Delhi has urged Moscow to repatriate several Indian citizens who signed up for "support jobs" with the Russian military but were later sent to fight on the frontlines in Ukraine. At least five Indian soldiers have been killed in the conflict.

Western powers have sought to strengthen their relations with India, viewing it as a key player in countering China's influence in the Asia-Pacific region. India is part of the Quad grouping with the United States, Japan, and Australia, which positions itself against China's growing power.

Modi last visited Russia in 2019 and hosted Putin in New Delhi two years later, just weeks before Moscow launched its offensive against Ukraine. Since then, India has abstained from UN resolutions condemning Russia and has refrained from explicit criticism of the Kremlin's actions.