Modi to visit Europe amid Ukraine crisis

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will depart for a three-nation European tour of Germany, Denmark and France next week amid the Russia-Ukraine war.

Modi will first travel to Germany on May 2, where he is slated to hold bilateral talks with Chancellor Olaf Scholz. From Germany, he will go to Denmark and will have a brief stopover in Paris on his way back home on May 4, according to the Foreign Ministry.

"In Berlin, the Prime Minister will hold bilateral talks with Olaf Scholz, Federal Chancellor of Germany, and the two leaders will co-chair the sixth edition of the India-Germany Inter-Governmental Consultations (IGC)," the Ministry said in a statement.

Modi's visit will be an opportunity to enhance and intensify cooperation in a broad range of areas and for the two governments to exchange views on regional and global matters of mutual interest, according to the Ministry.

"During his visit, the Prime Minister and German Chancellor Scholz would also jointly address a business event. The Prime Minister will address and interact with the Indian community in Germany," it said.

From Germany, Modi will head to Copenhagen. Apart from holding bilateral talks with Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, the Indian PM will participate in the second India-Nordic summit being hosted by Denmark, the Ministry said.

At the India-Nordic summit, Modi will also hold talks with Premier Katrín Jakobsdóttir of Iceland, Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre of Norway, Premier Magdalena Andersson of Sweden and PM Sanna Marin of Finland.

"The summit will focus on subjects like post-pandemic economic recovery, climate change, innovation and technology, renewable energy, the evolving global security scenario and India-Nordic cooperation in the Arctic," the Ministry said.

On his return journey on May 4, the Ministry said, Modi will make a stopover in Paris and meet French President Emmanuel Macron, who was recently re-elected for a second five-year term, according to the Ministry.

"India and France are celebrating 75 years of their diplomatic relations this year and the meeting between the two leaders will set a more ambitious agenda of the strategic partnership," the statement said.