Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is on a visit to Ukraine, embraced President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in his customary bear hug. PM Modi and President Zelenskyy then went to pay their respects at a memorial erected for children killed in the war. As the duo walked to the memorial, PM Modi was seen putting his arm around President Zelenskyy's shoulder — a gesture that showed India's solidarity with Ukraine's losses amid a non-stop Russian onslaught.
PM Modi's action showed that he had Zelenskyy's back, quite literally. On the other hand, Russian President Vladimir Putin also received a warm hug from Prime Minister Modi just six weeks ago.
The similar gesture for both world leaders has positioned India as a strong diplomatic force amid the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, which has the world, especially the West on the boil. Soon after PM Modi's Russia visit, Zelenskyy criticised him, saying he was “disappointed to see the leader of the world's largest democracy hug the world's most bloody criminal in Moscow”.
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PM Modi paid homage at the Martyrologist Exposition in Kyiv on Friday.He said: "Conflict is particularly devastating for young children. My heart goes out to the families of children who lost their lives, and I pray that they find the strength to endure their grief."
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During PM Modi's Ukraine visit, four key documents were signed between India and Ukraine. These include:
1. Memorandum of understanding on medical products and drugs.
2. An agreement to cooperate in the food and agriculture sectors.
3. MoU on assistance for community development in Ukraine.
4. Project to strengthen cultural cooperation between the two nations.