This is not an era of war, reiterated Prime Minister Narendra Modi while addressing the Indian community in Poland, two days before his much-anticipated visit to Ukraine where he has pledged to campaign for a peaceful resolution of Russia’s invasion.

“India is an advocate of permanent peace in this region. Our stand is very clear – this isn’t an era of war. This is the time to come together against those challenges which threaten humanity. Therefore, India believes in diplomacy and dialogues,” PM Modi said.

PM Modi, 73, will be the first Indian Prime Minister to make a Ukraine trip and is the first in 45 years to travel to Poland – Kyiv’s close ally and a key transit for foreign leaders heading to its war-torn neighbour.

PM Modi, who is visiting Ukraine at the invitation of President Volodymyr Zelensky on August 23, has said that he will share with the Ukrainian leader perspectives on a peaceful resolution of the ongoing conflict.

His visit to Kyiv comes nearly six weeks after his high-profile trip to Moscow which triggered criticism from the US and some of its Western allies.

In September 2022, the Prime Minister made the “not an era of war” comment for the first time while talking with Russia’s President Vladimir Putin during an SCO summit. On the sidelines of the SCO summit in Samarkand on September 16, PM Modi said, “Today’s era isn’t of war” while emphasising the need to find ways to address the problems of food, fuel security and fertilisers.

Before his departure for Poland, PM Modi said, “As a friend and partner, we hope for an early return of peace and stability in the region.” 

The Prime Minister arrived in Poland on a two-day visit where he laid wreaths at Jam Saheb of Nawanagar Memorial and Kolhapur Memorial in Warsaw, two places that commemorate the shared history between India and Poland.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is on a visit to Poland — a first for an Indian Prime Minister in more than four decades. The last Prime Minister to visit Poland was Morarji Desai in 1979.

Joking that the “first visit” had been one of the biggest headlines back home, he told a gathering of expat Indians that his recent visit to Austria has been another first in four decades. “It is my good fortune to bring about many firsts,” he added to laughter and cheers.

This string of firsts, he indicated, was due to a 180 degree shift in foreign policy.

“For decades, India’s policy was to maintain distance from all countries,” PM Modi said. “The situation has now changed… Today, India’s policy is to maintain close ties with all countries. Today’s India wants to connect with everyone,” he added, in a subtle jab at the Non-Aligned Movement of the 1970s under then Congress government.

“Today’s India is with everyone and thinks about everyone’s benefit. Today the world respects India as Vishwa Bandhu,” he added.

Over the last years, PM Modi has been to several nations — the one that made the biggest headlines being Israel. It acknowledged the shift in the ties between the two nations that was already in progress — from the traditional military-security paradigm to economic and developmental issues.

The current visit to Poland underscores India’s growing participation in matters involving Europe. In both the Russia-Ukraine conflict and Israel’s war on Hamas, PM Modi has played the role of a peacemaker. He is expected to visit Ukraine today.

Ahead of his departure, PM Modi said his visit marks 70 years of diplomatic relations with Poland, which is now also a “key economic partner in Central Europe”.

“Our bilateral trade is substantial. And it’s of the order of US$6 billion, which makes Poland India’s largest trading partner in Central and Eastern Europe. Indian investments in Poland are estimated at around US$3 billion. And the Polish investments into India are around US$1 billion,” the foreign ministry has said.