The visit has been described by experts as significant, as it could symbolise a shift in India's position on the Ukraine war, but potentially isolate it within Asia at the same time.
Narendra Modi's visit to Ukraine, the first by an Indian prime minister in more than three decades, is a delicate balancing act. It's a gamble that could go wrong and further push the Russian president into the arms of China, isolating India. The visit on Friday comes after much criticism of the embrace between Mr Modi and President Putin last month. That very day Russian missiles struck a Ukrainian children's hospital killing 47 and injuring 170 people, mostly children.
Over the years the relationship strengthened particularly in the defence sector, with military hardware forming an overwhelming chunk of the Indian defence establishment. Russia supplied 65% of India's weapons purchases during the last two decades, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute.
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