Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi shake hands after a press conference at the Prime Minister’s Chancellery in Warsaw, Poland on August 22, 2024. | Photo Credit: Reuters
Prime Minister Narendra Modi was on Thursday (August 22, 2024) received by his Polish counterpart Donald Tusk before leaving for Kyiv for top-level meetings.
Mr Modi and Mr Tusk discussed security, the war in Ukraine by India’s strategic partner Russia and strengthening bilateral ties. They were expected to deliver statements and later meet Polish President Andrzej Duda.
Before his visit, Mr Modi said that Poland is India’s key economic partner in Central Europe.
The two leaders are expected to sign bilateral strategic cooperation agreements covering cyber security and defence sectors.
Poland, at the eastern edge of NATO and the European Union, is concerned about the two-year-long war on its eastern border. It has offered political, humanitarian and defense aid to Ukraine.
Kiev condemned Mr Modi’s visit to Moscow last month, during which he met and hugged President Vladimir Putin. Modi has refrained from condemning Russia, insisting on a peaceful resolution to the war in Ukraine.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky described the meeting as a “huge disappointment and a devastating setback for peace efforts”. He also criticised Mr Modi for hugging Mr Putin during the meeting.
Shri Modi’s visit to Poland also marks the completion of 70 years of official bilateral relations between New Delhi and Warsaw.
According to data cited by the Indian Embassy, the total value of bilateral trade is projected to grow from $1.95 billion to $5.72 billion during 2013–2023, with India’s exports accounting for the majority of the total.
Then Indian President Pratibha Patil visited Poland in 2009, and Mr. Tusk visited India in 2010 during his first term as Prime Minister.
On Friday, Mr Modi will travel to Kyiv to meet Mr Zelensky.