New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday shortly after he had a phone conversation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
The phone call with Putin lasted for about 50 minutes during which the two leaders discussed the evolving situation in Ukraine. "President Putin briefed PM Modi on the status of negotiations between the Ukrainian and Russian teams," the government sources said. PM Modi, sources added, urged Putin to hold direct talks with Ukrainian President Zelenskyy in addition to the ongoing negotiations between the leaders of the two countries.
"PM Modi appreciated the announcement of ceasefire and establishment of humanitarian corridors in parts of Ukraine, including Sumy," they said. The Prime Minister Modi stressed the importance of safe evacuation of Indian citizens from Sumy at the earliest. Putin, sources said, assured Modi of all possible cooperation in the safe evacuation of Indians from Ukraine.
Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Modi spoke to Zelenskyy. The phone call lasted for about 35 minutes. The two leaders discussed the evolving situation in Ukraine even as the PM appreciated the continuing direct dialogue between Russia and Ukraine.
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Zelenskyy tweeted about his telephonic conversation with Prime Minister Modi and appreciated India's assistance to Ukrainian citizens during the war and India's commitment to direct peaceful dialogue at the highest level. The Prime Minister's Office (PMO) released a statement saying that Modi expressed "deep concern for safety and security of Indian students still in Ukraine and emphasised the need for their quick and safe evacuation."
India has been facing tough questions from the West on abstaining from United Nations resolutions against Russia including when two-thirds of the UNHRC voted on March 4 to investigate all alleged violations in the wake of Putin's aggression against Ukraine.
PM Modi had spoken to both the leaders twice, since the beginning of the conflict on February 24 when Russia launched a special military operation on Ukraine. The Indian prime minister had spoken to the Russian President on February 24 night and then on March 2. In his last call, PM Modi reviewed the situation in Ukraine, especially in Kharkiv and both the leaders had also discussed the safe evacuation of the Indian nationals from the conflict areas, according to the Prime Minister's office.
Read: Ukraine says Russia steps up shelling of residential areas
Meanwhile, tensions have escalated following Russia's military action in Ukraine and the government has arranged flights from countries neighbouring Ukraine for the evacuation of Indian students under 'Operation Ganga'. On Sunday the Indian government said that since February 22, it has so far evacuated nearly 16,000 Indian students from Ukraine through flights from Ukraine's neighbouring countries.
Earlier, Israel Prime Minister Naftali Bennett tried mediating between Russia and Ukraine on Sunday, several world leaders including Turkey's Erdogan and France's Macron had telephonic conversations with Putin and urged him to stop the war on Ukraine. However, even limited cease-fire announced by Russia in two Ukrainian cities was revoked shortly after, making it impossible for Ukraine to rescue civilians.
