A video is spreading widely on social media (here, here, and here) that claims to show Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his recent visit to Poland and Ukraine. In the video, he is seen accepting greetings from supporters and meeting them at the airport, despite the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war. This article will examine the context of the video.
Claim: Video shows PM Modi’s welcome at the airport in Ukraine amidst the war with Russia.
Fact: The video dates back to June 2023, during Prime Minister Modi’s first state visit to the US. He led the International Yoga Day event at the UN and met with President Joe Biden. The video shows him being welcomed by the Indian community at the New York airport, shaking hands as they chanted ‘Modi, Modi’. This viral video is unrelated to Ukraine. Hence, the claim made in the post is FALSE.
A reverse image search of keyframes from the viral video led us to a similar video on NDTV’s website. The video, titled “Massive Welcome For PM Modi In US For Landmark State Visit,” was posted on 20 June 2023, confirming that the viral video is not recent. The same video was also published on the official YouTube channel of the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO).
Based on the video’s description, a keyword search led us to reports (here and here) that Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited New York on 20 June 2023, during his state visit to the US. He led the International Yoga Day event at the UN and met with President Joe Biden. The video shows him being greeted by the Indian community at the airport, shaking hands as they chanted ‘Modi, Modi’.
According to the Ministry of External Affairs, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent visit (in August 2024) included Poland—the first by an Indian leader in 45 years—where he met with Polish officials and the Indian community. He then travelled to Ukraine, marking the first visit since 1992, to bolster bilateral relations across various sectors.
It’s important to note that Ukraine’s airspace is closed due to the ongoing conflict with Russia. During his recent visit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi first travelled to Poland and then continued to Ukraine by train from there.
To sum up, this video of Prime Minister Narendra Modi is not related to his 2024 visit to Ukraine but is from his earlier visit to the US in 2023.
