PM Modi Poland Visit Highlights: Modi Lands In Warsaw, Pays Tribute To Royal Family Of Kolhapur

Prime Minister Narendra Modi landed in Warsaw, Poland on Wednesday, becoming the first Indian prime minister to visit the country in 45 years. Before Modi, Moraji Desai had visited Poland in 1979.

On the first day of his visit, Prime minister Modi visited the Good Maharaja Memorial to pay tribute to the Maharaja Jam Saheb Digvijaysinhji Ranjitsinhji Jadeja, the ruler of Nawanagar.

After this, the prime minister visited the memorial for the Battle of Monte Cassino, where the Indian army played a crucial role. This was followed by a visit to the Kolhapur memorial to pay tribute to the Royal Family of Kohlapur in Maharashtra.

Check out highlights from his Poland visit here

Prime Minister Narendra Modi left from India for Poland on Wednesday, marking the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister to the country in 45 years. The last Indian Prime Minister to visit Poland was Morarji Desai in 1979.

In a departing statement, PM Modi said: "Leaving for Warsaw. This visit to Poland comes at a special time- when we are marking 70 years of diplomatic ties between our nations. India cherishes the deep-rooted friendship with Poland. This is further cemented by a commitment to democracy and pluralism".

PM Modi is beginning his two-nation tour of Poland and Ukraine today, with the first pitstop being the Polish capital of Warsaw, from where he will head to the Ukrainian city of Kyiv on August 23. PM Modi on Wednesday said he was looking forward to sharing perspectives with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on a peaceful resolution of the Ukraine conflict.

PM Modi is visiting Polish capital city Warsaw on August 21 and 22. PM Modi will be in Kyiv for around seven hours on August 23 in the first visit by an Indian prime minister to Ukraine since the country became independent in 1991.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will travel to Ukraine's Kyiv from Poland in a 'Rail Force One' train that will take around 10 hours. The return trip will also be of the same duration.

A number of world leaders including US President Joe Biden, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz visited Kyiv by train after the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Read More About The Train

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Poland visit marks 70 years of our diplomatic relations between India and Poland. Poland is a key economic partner in Central Europe, PM Modi said on Wednesday as he departed for the country.

"Our mutual commitment to democracy and pluralism further reinforces our relationship. I look forward to meeting my friend Prime Minister Donald Tusk and President Andrzej Duda to further advance our partnership," he said.

"I will also engage with the members of the vibrant Indian community in Poland," PM Modi said.

Prime Minister embarked on a two-nation trip to Poland and Ukraine. In the first leg of the visit, PM Modi is visiting Polish capital city Warsaw on August 21 and 22.

PM Modi will be in Kyiv for around seven hours on August 23 in the first visit by an Indian prime minister to Ukraine since the country became independent in 1991.

In a departure statement on Wednesday, PM Modi, referring to the Ukraine conflict, said that as a "friend and partner", India hopes for an early return of peace and stability in the region.

I look forward to the opportunity to build upon earlier conversations with President Zelenskyy on strengthening bilateral cooperation and share perspectives on peaceful resolution of the ongoing Ukraine conflict," he said. READ FULL STORY

Senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor on Tuesday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi's upcoming visit to Ukraine is a good gesture and will be appreciated.

PM Modi will visit the Ukrainian capital Kyiv on August 23 to hold talks with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

XTalking to the media, Shashi Tharoor, a senior Lok Sabha member, said it is good that India shows a certain amount of concern for both countries in conflict, i.e. Russia and Ukraine.

As PM Modi heads for his Poland and Ukraine visit, Russia on Wednesday claimed it filed one of the largest attacks yet by Ukrainian drones since the start of fighting in 2022.

Moscow came under one of the largest attacks yet by Ukrainian drones since the start of fighting in 2022, Russian authorities reported Wednesday, saying they destroyed all of those headed toward the capital.

Russia downed 45 Ukrainian drones overnight, the Ministry of Defense said. It said 11 were destroyed over the Moscow region, 23 over the Bryansk region, six over Belgorod, three over Kaluga and two over Kursk.

“This was one of the biggest attempts of all time to attack Moscow using drones,” an AP report quoted Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin as saying on his Telegram channel. Sobyanin said strong defenses around the capital made it possible to shoot down all the drones before they could hit their intended targets.

The Ministry of External Affaris on Monday had said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Ukraine would be a "landmark and historic" one.

"Lasting peace can only be achieved through options that are acceptable to both parties. And it can only be negotiated settlement," Tanmaya Lal, Secretary (West) in MEA.

"On our part, India continues to engage with all stakeholders," he said.

During his visit to Moscow last month, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had emphasises that "war is not a solution".

Modi's visit to Russia was criticised by many including Ukrainian President Zelenskyy. PM Modi during his 2-day visit to Russia participated in a private dinner hosted by Putin and engaged in talks with him.

He had told Putin, "For restoration of peace, India is ready to cooperate in all ways."

Further condemning war and highlighting the effects of violence, PM Modi said, "Be it war, conflicts, terror attacks - everyone who believes in humanity is pained when there is loss of lives. But when innocent children are murdered, when we see innocent children dying, it is heart-wrenching. That pain is immense. I also held a detailed discussion with you over this."

"No solution is possible in battlefield," he had said.

Members of the Indian diaspora in Warsaw are excited about the visit of PM Modi to Poland. JJ Singh, a member of the diaspora, said, "The Indian community is very happy. Polish people connected with India are also excited that an Indian PM is coming to their country after 45 years. Around 200 people will welcome the PM here today. There will be a 'Garba' performance on his arrival here and also interaction. A larger group of people will join the PM's community interaction program later today."

In an interconnected world, "no war is distant anymore", US envoy Eric Garcetti said last month after PM Modi's Russia visit, adding that that one must not just stand for peace, but also take concrete actions to make sure those who don't play by peaceful rules, their war machines "cannot continue unabated".

Garcetti had said: “I respect that India likes its strategic autonomy, but in times of conflict, there is no such thing as strategic autonomy. We will, in crisis moments, need to know each other. I don’t care what title we put to it, but we will need to know that we are trusted friends… that in times of need in the next day be acting together, that we’ll know each other’s equipment, that we know each other’s training, we’ll know each other’s systems, and we’ll know each other as human beings as well.” READ FULL STORY

Talking about Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Poland visit, Rajpal Sabnani, a member of the Indian diaspora in Warsaw, said "It is a matter of excitement for us that our Prime Minister is coming to Poland. this is an important visit which will improve India-Poland relations. This will help bring investments to India from Poland."

Members of Indian diaspora are gathered outside the hotel where PM Modi will be staying during his visit to Warsaw, Poland.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has landed in Poland. The three-time PM is also the first Indian prime minister to visit Warsaw in around 45 years.

PM Modi is on a two-day official visit to Poland. Upon landing in Warsaw, Modi became the first Indian PM to visit Poland in 45 years. During his visit, the prime minister will be meeting with members of the Indian community in Poland.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has landed in Poland to mark 70 years of diplomatic relations between New Delhi and Warsaw.

Modi has also become the first Indian PM to visit the country in over 40 years. Morarji Desai was the last Indian Prime Minister to visit Poland in 1979.

Prime Minister Modi has landed in Poland for a two-day official visit. As per MEA spokesperson, PM Modi will be visiting three memorials paying tribute at the Good Maharaja Memorial.

On Thursday, the prime minister will have bilateral meetings with the Prime Minister of Poland, Donald Tusk. He also meet the president of Poland, Andrzej Duda, and meet business leaders to strengthen India-Poland business relations.

"Prime Minister will also be meeting Indologists and some kabaddi players to see what is there that attracts India and Poland at the people-to-people level together," Jaiswal added further.

After landing in Warsaw, Prime Minister Narendra Modi met and interacted with members of the Indian community in Poland.

After landing in Warsaw on Wednesday evening, Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the Jam Saheb Of Nawanagar Memorial in Warsaw and laid a wreath at the site.

The memorial is a tribute to the late Maharaja Jam Saheb Digvijaysinhji Ranjitsinhji Jadeja, the ruler of Nawanagar. During World War 2, Maharaja Jam Saheb saved around 1,000 Polish children in 1941.

On his first day in Poland, Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the Monte Cassino Memorial and the Memorial to the Kohlapur family.

During the second world war, a small village in Maharashtra, named Valivade, became a beacon of hope for the Polish refugees. At a time when thousands of Polish children and refugees were caught in the conflicts of the second world war and Soviet repression, India welcomed around 6,000 Polish individuals between 1942 and 1948.

“In 1943-1948, 5,000 Polish refugees found shelter in Valivade camp in India. Thanks to the hospitality of the principality of Kolhapur. Dispersed throughout the world, we remember India with heartfelt gratitude,” reads an obelisk in Mahavir Garden Park.

"Members of the Association of Polish in India from 1942 to 48 and myself, I wish you, the prime minister, much health and success in fulfilling the mission you undertook by visiting Poland and Europe. We lost our homes we had nowhere to return to. Only about 10% returned to Poland. India has always remained in our hearts." says a Polish citizen as PM Modi paid tribute to the Kolhapur family and laid a wreath at the memorial site.

PM Modi began his two-day official visit to Poland earlier today. On his first day in Warsaw, the prime minister visited the Kolhapur memorial.

"Paid homage at the Kolhapur Memorial in Warsaw. This Memorial is a tribute to the great Royal Family of Kolhapur. This Royal Family was at the forefront of giving shelter to Polish women and children displaced due to the horrors of World War II. Inspired by the ideals of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, the great Royal Family of Kolhapur put humanity above everything else and ensured a life of dignity for the Polish women and children. This act of compassion will keep inspiring generations," stated Modi on X.