The United States has described Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Ukraine as "potentially helpful," AFP reported on Friday (August 23), citing the White House.&nbsp;

PM Modi reached Ukraine after a seven-hour train journey from Poland. This marks the first visit by an Indian prime minister to Ukraine. The White House&nbsp;said that it believes Modi's visit could contribute positively to the situation in Ukraine.

If Modi's Ukraine trip can work toward "getting us to an end to the conflict that comports with President (Volodymyr) Zelensky's vision for a just peace, well, then we think that would be helpful," National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said during a press briefing.

In a joint statement released on Friday, the Indian PM and Ukrainian president&nbsp;highlighted their shared interest in advancing bilateral relations between the two nations. PM Modi emphasised his message of peace and urged both Russia and Ukraine to engage in talks to end the war as soon as possible.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-national-security-advisor-jake-sullivan-to-visit-china-will-it-pave-the-way-for-a-biden-xi-meeting-752788">US national security advisor to visit China: Will it lead to Biden-Xi meet?</a>

"The road to resolution can only be found through dialogue and diplomacy. And we should move in that direction without wasting any time. Both sides should sit together to find a way out of this crisis," the Indian PM said.

"I want to assure you that India is ready to play an active role in any efforts towards peace. If I can play any role in this personally, I will do that I want to assure you as a friend," he added.

"Our approach are always people centric- I want to assure to the whole world that we stand for territorial integrity. While I was in Moscow - I told very clear that this is not time for war, any resolution can bring through dialogue, discussion not on war field. Both sides need to sit together and should find way for peace," Modi said.

(With inputs from agencies)

The United States has described Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Ukraine as "potentially helpful," AFP reported on Friday (August 23), citing the White House.

The United States has described Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Ukraine as "potentially helpful," AFP reported on Friday (August 23), citing the White House. PM Modi reached Ukraine after a seven-hour train journey from Poland. This marks the first visit by an Indian prime minister to Ukraine. The White House said that it believes Modi's visit could contribute positively to the situation in Ukraine. If Modi's Ukraine trip can work toward "getting us to an end to the conflict that comports with President (Volodymyr) Zelensky's vision for a just peace, well, then we think that would be helpful," National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said during a press briefing. In a joint statement released on Friday, the Indian PM and Ukrainian president highlighted their shared interest in advancing bilateral relations between the two nations. PM Modi emphasised his message of peace and urged both Russia and Ukraine to engage in talks to end the war as soon as possible. Also read: US national security advisor to visit China: Will it lead to Biden-Xi meet? "The road to resolution can only be found through dialogue and diplomacy. And we should move in that direction without wasting any time. Both sides should sit together to find a way out of this crisis," the Indian PM said. "I want to assure you that India is ready to play an active role in any efforts towards peace. If I can play any role in this personally, I will do that I want to assure you as a friend," he added. "Our approach are always people centric- I want to assure to the whole world that we stand for territorial integrity. While I was in Moscow - I told very clear that this is not time for war, any resolution can bring through dialogue, discussion not on war field. Both sides need to sit together and should find way for peace," Modi said. (With inputs from agencies)

Modi's historic Ukraine visit could aid 'Zelensky’s vision' for peace, says White House

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi began his one-day visit to war-torn Ukraine on Friday (Aug 23). This is the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Ukraine since its independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. Modi's visit also comes as the war between Russia and Ukraine rages on. Visuals showed Prime Minister Modi's convoy arriving in Kyiv. He was also seen meeting the Indian diaspora in Ukraine. Watch in for more details!

PM Modi in Ukraine: Indian PM meets with Indian diaspora, Zelensky in Kyiv amid war

PM Modi in Ukraine: PM Modi meets Zelensky in Kyiv amid war

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday (August 22) said that Ukraine attempted to attack the Kursk Nuclear Power Plant, located in the country's region near the border.

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday (August 22) said that Ukraine attempted to attack the Kursk Nuclear Power Plant, located in the country's region near the border. This area experienced an incursion by Kyiv's forces over two weeks ago. What did Putin claim about the Kursk nuclear power plant? During a meeting in Moscow concerning the Russian border regions of Belgorod, Bryansk, and Kursk, Putin stated, “The enemy tried to strike the (Kursk) nuclear power plant last night.” He also noted that the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) had been informed and had agreed to send experts to assess the situation at the plant. Also read: Chinese man invades North Korea in a never-thought way, flies drone across the border What is the current situation at the plant? During the meeting in Moscow, the acting Governor of Kursk, Alexey Smirnov assured that the plant's situation remained stable. Earlier, the Russian defence ministry reported intercepting a Ukrainian drone over the Kursk region during an overnight attack. Ukrainian officials have not yet responded to these claims. Accusations between Ukraine and Russia regarding nuclear safety Throughout the 2.5-year conflict, Ukraine and Russia have traded accusations regarding threats to nuclear safety. Russian forces initially took control of the abandoned Chernobyl plant and Europe’s largest nuclear facility, the Zaporizhzhia plant, at the start of their large-scale military offensive. Members of Indian Diaspora expressed optimism on PM Modi's visit to Ukraine × Russia continues to control the Zaporizhzhia site and has faced accusations of "nuclear blackmail" from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Moscow, however, claims Ukrainian forces have attempted multiple drone strikes on the plant. Indian PM’s message ahead of his Ukraine visit Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, speaking in Poland on Thursday, stressed that conflicts cannot be resolved through combat. His upcoming visit to Kyiv is the first by an Indian premier. Also read: Malaysian PM Anwar Ibrahim goes all Indian, sings Hindi song at his farewell in Delhi Modi is expected to advocate for a peaceful resolution to the ongoing conflict that began with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The Indian government has avoided directly condemning Russia unlike the West and has instead promoted dialogue between both sides. “It is India’s strong belief that no problem can be resolved on a battlefield,” the Indian PM said. He added that India supports “dialogue and diplomacy for restoration of peace and stability as soon as possible” and condemned “the loss of innocent lives in any conflict.” Disclaimer: A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on Ukraine-Russia war on the ground and online. While WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing developments, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos (With inputs from agencies)

Russia accuses Ukraine of attempting to attack Kursk nuclear plant

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will board Train Force One, the luxury train from Poland to travel to the Ukrainian capital Kyiv on Friday (Aug 23).

World leaders such as US President Joe Biden and French President Emmanuel Macron have used the train previously for their trips to Kyiv.

<img alt="Train Force One, modi ukraine visit, modi on train force one, Narendra Modi, Ukraine visit, luxury train, Ukraine luxury train, Iron Diplomacy, Ukrainian railways, diplomatic mission, world leader" src="https://akm-img-a-in.tosshub.com/indiatoday/styles/medium_crop_simple/public/2024-08/reuters_rts10odl3.jpg?VersionId=5n4zd33mq2UQonnZ3Ew5N2GCAil2knWU&amp;size=750:*" />

The ‘Force One’ features striking interiors that match its prestigious guest list. The train boasts wood-panelled cabins designed for both work and relaxation.

Amenities include a large table for important meetings, a plush sofa, and a wall-mounted TV. The sleeping arrangements are also carefully designed for maximum comfort.

It may be mentioned here&nbsp;that PM Modi will visit Ukraine on August 23. This marks the first visit by an Indian leader since the Russian invasion began in 2022. The visit is expected to last approximately seven hours, with nearly 20 hours dedicated to train travel.

Notably, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky often uses the railway network for his international diplomatic trips.

Trains remain operational despite threats

Russia's attacks on Ukraine's power grids and generation facilities have forced the country to switch from electric to diesel locomotives. This change has resulted in slower train travel between the Polish border and Kyiv."

Also read:&nbsp;<a data-ctorig="https://www.wionews.com/videos/pm-modi-poland-visit-pm-modi-embarks-on-three-day-state-visit-to-poland-and-ukraine-751836" data-cturl="https://www.google.com/url?client=internal-element-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;q=https://www.wionews.com/videos/pm-modi-poland-visit-pm-modi-embarks-on-three-day-state-visit-to-poland-and-ukraine-751836&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=2ahUKEwiZxLDyv4WIAxWlR2wGHdj1D8QQFnoECAIQAg&amp;usg=AOvVaw1NC15IJQ3MzRQNVI2yHlVG&amp;arm=e" dir="ltr" href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/pm-modi-poland-visit-pm-modi-embarks-on-three-day-state-visit-to-poland-and-ukraine-751836" target="_blank">PM&nbsp;Modi's&nbsp;three-day state visit to Poland and Ukraine</a>

These luxury carriages were originally built in 2014 for tourists in Crimea and later were repurposed after Russia's annexation to transport world leaders and VIPs through a war-torn country.

<img alt="Train Force One, modi ukraine visit, modi on train force one, Narendra Modi, Ukraine visit, luxury train, Ukraine luxury train, Iron Diplomacy, Ukrainian railways, diplomatic mission, world leader" src="https://akm-img-a-in.tosshub.com/indiatoday/styles/medium_crop_simple/public/2024-08/reuters_rts10onou.jpg?VersionId=YmcQses6r2iRxPqWh.Ioo6lvoIaBgsGa&amp;size=750:*" />

Under Oleksandr Kamyshin's leadership, the Ukrainian railway system has successfully maintained train operations with minimal delays, despite ongoing threats and frequent power outages.

He gained prominence for managing a rail system that has evacuated millions fleeing west, transported many leaders and diplomats, and kept the country's transport running smoothly despite the ongoing Russian aggression.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ukraine-passes-bill-to-ban-orthodox-church-with-ties-to-russia-zelensky-hails-ban-moscow-slams-it-751722">Ukraine passes bill to ban Orthodox church with ties to Russia; Zelensky hails ban, Moscow slams it</a>

It may be recalled here, that Prime Minister Modi and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in Italy in June and previously at the G7 Summit in Japan last year.

Ukraine’s foreign minister, Dmytro Kuleba, visited New Delhi in March to urge India to take a more active role in ongoing peace efforts.

(With inputs from agencies)

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will board Train Force One, the luxury train from Poland to travel to the Ukrainian capital Kyiv on Friday (Aug 23). World leaders such as US President Joe Biden and French President Emmanuel Macron have used the train previously for their trips to Kyiv.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will board Train Force One, the luxury train from Poland to travel to the Ukrainian capital Kyiv on Friday (Aug 23). World leaders such as US President Joe Biden and French President Emmanuel Macron have used the train previously for their trips to Kyiv. The ‘Force One’ features striking interiors that match its prestigious guest list. The train boasts wood-panelled cabins designed for both work and relaxation. Amenities include a large table for important meetings, a plush sofa, and a wall-mounted TV. The sleeping arrangements are also carefully designed for maximum comfort. It may be mentioned here that PM Modi will visit Ukraine on August 23. This marks the first visit by an Indian leader since the Russian invasion began in 2022. The visit is expected to last approximately seven hours, with nearly 20 hours dedicated to train travel. Notably, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky often uses the railway network for his international diplomatic trips. Trains remain operational despite threats Russia's attacks on Ukraine's power grids and generation facilities have forced the country to switch from electric to diesel locomotives. This change has resulted in slower train travel between the Polish border and Kyiv." Also read: PM Modi's three-day state visit to Poland and Ukraine These luxury carriages were originally built in 2014 for tourists in Crimea and later were repurposed after Russia's annexation to transport world leaders and VIPs through a war-torn country. Under Oleksandr Kamyshin's leadership, the Ukrainian railway system has successfully maintained train operations with minimal delays, despite ongoing threats and frequent power outages. He gained prominence for managing a rail system that has evacuated millions fleeing west, transported many leaders and diplomats, and kept the country's transport running smoothly despite the ongoing Russian aggression. Also read: Ukraine passes bill to ban Orthodox church with ties to Russia; Zelensky hails ban, Moscow slams it It may be recalled here, that Prime Minister Modi and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in Italy in June and previously at the G7 Summit in Japan last year. Ukraine’s foreign minister, Dmytro Kuleba, visited New Delhi in March to urge India to take a more active role in ongoing peace efforts. (With inputs from agencies)

PM Modi to board luxurious Train Force One from Poland to Ukrainian capital Kyiv. Here are its features