– Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Ukraine this week and meet with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, after meeting with President Vladimir Putin in Moscow
– The visit will focus on cooperation in defense, economic and business ties, science and technology, and other sectors
– Zelenskyy had criticized Modi for hugging Putin during their meeting in Moscow, describing it as a blow to peace efforts
– India has avoided condemning Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and instead advocated for resolving the conflict through dialogue and diplomacy
– India is seeking to deepen its relationship with the West while maintaining ties with Moscow, a major defense supplier
– The United States has raised concerns over India’s relationship with Russia, especially as it seeks to strengthen ties with India as a counterweight to China
– India has become a key buyer of Russian oil, receiving more than 40% of its imports from Russia
– Ukraine is interested in strengthening trade and economic ties with India, with bilateral trade reaching $3.3 billion in the 2021-2022 financial year
– Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, India has provided almost 100 tons of humanitarian assistance to Ukraine and neighboring countries