Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi begins an official visit to Ukraine today, Friday, during which he will hold talks with President Volodymyr Zelensky, in the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Ukraine since 1991.

Modi said before the trip, “I look forward to the opportunity to exchange views on a peaceful solution to the conflict in Ukraine. As a friend and partner, we hope that peace and stability will return to the region soon.”

For his part, Mykhailo Podolyak, an Advisor to the Ukrainian President’s Office, stressed that Modi’s visit to Kiev is important because New Delhi “really has a certain influence on Moscow.”

He added, “It is very important for us to build effective relations with India, to explain to it what the right end to the war is, and that this is also in its interest.”

Source: National Iraqi News Agency