Indian premier, Ukrainian president discuss Ukraine situation

By Shuriah Niazi

NEW DELHI (AA) – Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy discussed the latest situation in Ukraine in a phone call on Saturday.

Modi “reiterated his call for an immediate cessation of violence and a return to dialogue, and expressed India’s willingness to contribute in any way toward peace efforts,” according to a statement by his office.

Zelenskyy briefed Modi “in detail about the ongoing conflict situation in Ukraine,” with the Indian premier expressing “his deep anguish about the loss of life and property due to the ongoing conflict,” the statement added.

He also conveyed New Delhi’s “deep concern for the safety and security of Indian citizens, including students, present in Ukraine,” urging “Ukrainian authorities to expeditiously and safely evacuate Indian citizens.”

Zelenskyy said in a tweet that he pressed Modi for “political support in the UN Security Council.”

“Informed (Modi) of the course of repulsing aggression. More than 100,000 invaders are on our land. They insidiously fire on residential buildings. Urged India to give us political support in UN Security Council. Stop the aggressor together!” he wrote on Twitter.

Meanwhile, the first batch of Indian nationals evacuated from Ukraine landed in Mumbai on Saturday evening.

A total of 219 people, mostly students, were brought back to India on a flight that took from Romania’s capital Bucharest, according to a government statement.

“The Indian government is working in mission mode to ensure safety of our citizens. The Russians have also promised to help evacuate all Indians,” said Piyush Goyal, a Cabinet minister who welcomed the repatriated Indians at the airport.

Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a “special military operation” in Ukraine on Thursday, days after recognizing two separatist-held enclaves in eastern Ukraine.

On the third day of Moscow’s attack, clashes between Russian and Ukrainian troops were reported on the outskirts of Ukraine’s capital Kyiv.

In a televised address on Thursday, Putin said the people of Donbas asked Russia for help, claiming that he wanted to “demilitarize” and “denazify” Ukraine.

Zelenskyy has accused Moscow of trying to install a puppet government, vowing that Ukrainians will defend their country against Russian aggression.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​