Ukraine attacked by Russia; seeks India’s support in defusing crisis
STATE TIMES NEWS
NEW DELHI: In a telephonic conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin amid the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday appealed for immediate cessation of violence and asserted that differences between Russia and NATO can only be resolved through “honest and sincere” dialogue.
During their conversation, Modi also sensitised the Russian President about India’s concerns regarding the safety of the Indian citizens in Ukraine, especially students, and conveyed that India attaches the highest priority to their safe exit and return, a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) here said.
President Putin briefed Prime Minister Modi about the recent developments regarding Ukraine, it said.
Will take all steps to bring back Indians: Shringla
New Delhi: India on Thursday assured its citizens stranded in Ukraine that it will take all possible steps to bring them back safe and sound.
Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla said at a media briefing that the Indian embassy in Ukraine is extending all possible assistance to the Indians notwithstanding the complicated situation. He said a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS), chaired by PM Narendra Modi, was underway on the Ukraine crisis. Shringla said Modi conveyed at the CCS meeting that the topmost priority of the government is the safety and security of Indians and their evacuation from Ukraine.
The foreign secretary said around 4,000 Indian nationals out of 20,000 have already left Ukraine in the past few days. “The situation on the ground is difficult and rapidly evolving,” he said. “I want to assure all Indian citizens including students in Ukraine that we will take all possible steps to bring you back safe and sound,” he said. Shringla said External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will speak to foreign ministers of Romania, Slovakia, Poland and Hungary on the Ukraine crisis.
The prime minister reiterated his long-standing conviction that the differences between Russia and the NATO group can only be resolved through honest and sincere dialogue, the PMO said.
Prime Minister Modi appealed for an immediate cessation of violence, and called for concerted efforts from all sides to return to the path of diplomatic negotiations and dialogue, it said.
The leaders agreed that their officials and diplomatic teams would continue to maintain regular contacts on issues of topical interest, the PMO said. India has been pressing for de-escalation of tensions taking into account the legitimate security interests of all countries.
The situation in Ukraine deteriorated after Putin announced the military operation against the country.
The Modi-Putin telephonic talk came hours after Ukraine sought India’s support in defusing the crisis following the Russian attack on the country and said it was “deeply dissatisfied” with New Delhi’s position on the deteriorating situation.
Ambassador of Ukraine to India Igor Polikha said Prime Minister Narendra Modi is among a very few global leaders to whom President Putin listens to and New Delhi can leverage its proximity with Moscow to control the situation.
Russia launched a wide-ranging attack on Ukraine on Thursday, hitting cities and bases with airstrikes or shelling, as civilians piled into trains and cars to flee. Ukraine’s government said Russian tanks and troops rolled across the border in a full-scale war that could rewrite the geopolitical order and whose fallout already reverberated around the world.
Ukraine’s president said Russian forces were trying to seize the Chernobyl nuclear plant, site of the world’s worst nuclear disaster, and Ukrainian forces were battling other troops just miles from Kyiv for control of a strategic airport. Large explosions were heard in the capital there and in other cities, and people massed in train stations and took to roads, as the government said the former Soviet republic was seeing a long-anticipated invasion from the east, north and south.
Following the attack, Ukraine sought India’s support in defusing the crisis following the Russian attack on the country and said it was “deeply dissatisfied” with New Delhi’s position on the deteriorating situation.
Ambassador of Ukraine Igor Polikha said Prime Minister Narendra Modi is among a very few global leaders to whom President Vladimir Putin listens to and New Delhi can leverage its proximity with Moscow to control the situation.
“I am following all the reports on the site of your ministry and the latest advisory to your citizens in Ukraine,” Polikha told the media.
“We are deeply dissatisfied with the Indian position. We are asking, pleading for the strong voice of India. In this case, Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji can address Putin,” he added.
Pleading for India’s help, the ambassador said Ukraine is expecting a much more favourable approach from India.
“We are expecting a much more favourable approach of the Indian government in this crisis situation. It is the moment of truth. The moment of destiny. We are waiting, asking, pleading for the assistance of India,” he said.
The ambassador particularly sought Prime Minister Modi’s assistance.
“Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji is one of the most powerful, respected world leaders. I don’t know how many world leaders Putin listens to. But the status of Modi ji makes me hopeful that in case of his s strong voice, Putin would think over,” he said.
After Putin ordered a “military operation” in Ukraine’s eastern Donbas region, Russia launched multiple attacks on several areas in central and eastern Ukraine that attracted severe condemnation from the US and its allies.
The Ukrainian foreign ministry alleged that goal of the Russian offensive is to destroy the Ukrainian state and to seize by force the territory of the country.
It said the Russian armed forces are launching attacks on peaceful Ukrainian cities from different directions, including from the territory of Donbas and Crimea.
“This is an act of war, an attack on the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, a brutal violation of the UN Charter and basic norms and principles of the international law,” the Ukrainian foreign ministry said.
The Ukrainian embassy in India also released the statement.
“Ukraine calls on the international community to act immediately. Only united and decisive actions can stop Vladimir Putin’s aggression against Ukraine,” it said.
India has been pressing for de-escalation of tensions taking into account the legitimate security interests of all countries.
The situation in Ukraine deteriorated after Putin announced the military operation in Ukraine. Following Putin’s announcement, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said an “invasion” could be the beginning of a “big war” in Europe.