Russia-Ukraine Crisis: PM Modi likely to hold conversation with Ukrainian and Russian Presidents
Amidst the Russia-Ukraine crisis hitting all-time low, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will hold a telephonic conversation with President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin, the sources in Government said.
This is the second time PM Narendra Modi will hold a conversation with Ukrainian President Zelenskyy and the third call to be held between PM Modi and President Putin. Earlier in separate calls with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin, PM Modi reiterated his call for an immediate cessation of violence and a return to dialogue. PM Modi also discussed with the leaders over the safe evacuation of the Indian nationals from the conflict areas. In call with President Zelenskyy, PM Modi expressed India’s willingness to contribute in any way towards peace efforts.
However, with tensions simmering on the ground between Russia and Ukraine, India has been working on a war footing level to evacuate all its citizens safe from war-torn Ukraine under Operation Ganga. According to the Ministry of Civil Aviation, more than 15,900 Indians have been brought back since the special flights began on 22nd February 2022. As of today, March 7, 2022, around 1200 Indian nationals will be brought back to India on board 7 flights, the External Affairs Minister Dr. S Jaishankar announced.
On the other hand, stepping up efforts to ensure early evacuation of students from the embattled northeastern Ukrainian City of Sumy, the Indian Embassy informed that the students stranded in Sumy will be evacuated through the country’s western borders via Poltava.
“Team from Embassy of India is stationed in Poltava City to coordinate the safe passage of Indian students stranded in Sumy to Western borders via Poltava. Confirmed time and date will be issued soon. Indian students advised to be ready to leave on short notice,” the Indian Embassy in Ukraine stated.
Earlier the Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson, Arindam Bagchi addressing media over the evacuation of students from Sumy said, “We are in touch with all concerned regarding possible movement. The best option for us would be a ceasefire of course that allows getting our students out and in this connection, we have been strongly pressing both the Russian and the Ukrainian sides to allow this kind of a local ceasefire, perhaps just to get a corridor for our students. It has not yet happened, but we are continuing to push for that.”
The Ministry further advised students to take safety precautions, stay inside shelters and avoid unnecessary risks and wait for the government’s advisory.
