Russia Ukraine War: PM Modi Speaks To Putin; Calls For Cessation Of Violence, Urge Talks

Amid the ongoing war in Ukraine, Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

PM Modi appealed to President Putin for ¡°immediate cessation of violence and return to the path of diplomatic negotiations and dialogue¡±.

According to the PMO, the Indian Prime Minister also ¡°sensitised the Russian President about India¡¯s concerns regarding the safety of Indian citizens in Ukraine, especially students, and conveyed that India attaches the highest priority to their safe exit and return to India.¡±

BCCL/ File

What the PM said

"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 Prime Minister called for concerted efforts from all sides to return to the path of diplomatic negotiations and dialogue," the PMO said on the Modi-Putin conversation.

"The leaders (Modi and Putin) agreed that their officials and diplomatic teams would continue to maintain regular contacts on issues of topical interest," the PMO said.

India has so far avoided condemning Russian actions in Ukraine and has urged for peace.

In December, Russia and India signed more trade and arms deals during a visit by Russian President Vladimir Putin, including one that will see India produce more than 600,000 Kalashnikov assault rifles.

AP

On Thursday, US President Joe Biden said that Washington is in still unresolved "consultations" with India, when asked if Washington and Delhi were fully in sync on a response to Russia's attack on Ukraine.

In a statement, the U.S. State Department said U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke with Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar and "stressed the importance of a strong collective response to condemn Russia's invasion and call for an immediate withdrawal and ceasefire."

In a tweet, Jaishankar said he discussed the implications of developments in Ukraine with Blinken, without disclosing further details about the call.

AP

Jaishankar also said he had spoken to his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov and "underlined that dialogue and diplomacy are the best way forward."

Thousands of Indians ate still stuck in Ukraine and with the closure of the airspace, their evacuation is in limbo.

The Indian Embassy in Ukraine had said that it is exploring other options to safely evacuate its citizens.

India launches helpline for citizens

With many Indian nationals still stuck in Ukraine, the central government has launched a 24-hour helpline to assist Indian students caught up in the ongoing war. A 24-hour control room has been set up in Delhi and the helpline numbers are +911123012113, +911123914104, +911123017905 and 1800118797.

The Indian Embassy in Kyiv also issued an advisory to Indian nationals stuck in Ukraine. It said that since the Ukrainian airspace was closed, the schedule of special flights has been cancelled.

It also said that alternate arrangements are being made and that information will be conveyed soon so that Indians could relocate to the western part of the country.

Additional helpline numbers for Indians stuck in Ukraine: +38 0997300428, +38 0997300483, +38 0933980327, +38 0635917881, +38 0935046170.

Indian students in Ukraine needing assistance can also send emails at this address: situationroom@mea.gov.in.

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