India’s external affairs minister S. Jaishankar traveled to Kyiv on Thursday during a three-day visit to Ukraine and Poland from September 3 to 5. During the trip, he met in person with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and held bilateral talks with Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha. The discussions covered the state of bilateral relations and regional security developments, including attacks on Black Sea ports and shipping routes that disrupted grain and energy exports.
Zelenskyy stated that a recent Russian aerial assault across Ukraine killed twelve people, including an Indian citizen. Ukrainian officials have expressed hope that India can play a constructive role in eventual peace efforts, while India maintains defense and energy ties with Russia and has sought to position itself as a potential bridge between Moscow and Kyiv.
Following his stop in Kyiv, Jaishankar is expected to travel to Warsaw to meet with Poland’s deputy prime minister and foreign minister, Radoslaw Sikorski. That leg of the trip will focus on bilateral trade, defense cooperation, and coordination on European security matters.