PM Modi invited Zelenskyy during his wide-ranging talks with the Ukrainian President

The Indian prime minister paid a nearly nine-hour visit to Kyiv in the first-ever trip to Ukraine by an Indian prime minister since it became independent over three decades back

At a media briefing following the talks between the two leaders, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar confirmed that Modi invited Zelenskyy to visit India

"It's significant that our prime minister has visited Ukraine for the first time since 1992. It is natural on such occasions that he extends an invitation, which he did in this case," he said

"So we expect that at some point, as per his convenience, President Zelenskyy will visit India," Jaishankar added

A joint statement also said that PM Modi invited Zelenskyy to visit India at a mutually convenient opportunity

Asked at a media briefing on PM Modi's invitation, Zelenskyy said he would be happy to come to India

"Yes because when you begin a strategic partnership, and you begin some dialogue, I think that you don't need to waste time and do a big pause and that's why I think it will be good to meet together again," he said

The Ukrainian President also said he wants India to be on the side of his country