Indian Prime Minister Modi is likely to visit Ukraine in August, local media reported via Reuters

New Delhi (Reuters) – Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to visit Ukraine next month, local media reported, his first visit to the country since the start of its war with Russia and weeks after he met Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow.

The Ukrainian ambassador in New Delhi said he had no information to immediately share. There was no immediate response from India's foreign ministry.

The West imposed sanctions on Moscow following its invasion of Ukraine in 2022, but “friendly” countries such as India and China continued to trade.

India has avoided blaming Russia directly, while urging the two nations to resolve their conflict through dialogue and negotiation.

Modi met Putin when a Russian missile struck a hospital in Kyiv, killing at least 41 people. The Indian leader told Putin that the death of innocent children was “painful and horrifying”.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy expressed displeasure with Modi's visit, calling it “a big disappointment and a negative contribution to peace efforts” to see him embrace “the world's bloodthirsty criminal in Moscow on such a day”.

Russia has denied that it hit the hospital.

The US State Department has expressed concern about India's relations with Russia especially at a time when it wanted to strengthen relations with India as it may face a rising China.

New Delhi wants to deepen its relations with the West while maintaining relations with Russia.

The final date of Modi's visit has not been confirmed, The Print reported on Saturday.