NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has invited Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to visit India, Ukraine’s Ambassador Oleksandr Polishchuk said on Saturday.Speaking to ANI on the occasion of Ukraine’s National Flag Day, the envoy said, “The Indian Prime Minister invited Zelensky to come to India. Both sides are working on this. We expect President Zelenskyy to be in India, definitely,” he said.”It will be a great achievement in our bilateral relationship… We are trying to agree on a precise date,” he added, claiming that the date is yet to be finalised.Polishchuk further welcomed the growing dialogue between Ukraine and India since 2023 and praised PM Modi’s stance, saying India is “not neutral” in the war but firmly supports peace, diplomacy, and political dialogue.”We are very much grateful that India, from the first day of the Russian invasion, clearly actually indicated the position of India. And if you remember, just recently, the Prime Minister said very openly that India is not neutral. India supports the peace and dialogue and discussion and political interaction between all of our partners and with the Russian Federation, with the aim to achieve peace in Ukraine,” he stated. The envoy urged India to take a more active role in ending the Russia-Ukraine conflict, stressing that Kyiv views New Delhi as a key player in peace talks because of its close ties with Moscow.Earlier on Saturday, the Ukrainian Embassy in New Delhi celebrated the country’s National Flag Day with a flag-hoisting ceremony and cultural gathering. Members dressed in traditional white attire raised the blue-and-yellow flag and sang the national anthem.Just last week, President Zelenskyy extended greetings to PM Modi and the people of India on the country’s 79th Independence Day, expressing hope that India would play an important role in global peace efforts. PM Modi responded warmly, thanking Zelenskyy for his wishes.The invitation comes amid the Russia-Ukraine war, which has dragged on for over three and a half years.
