MRussian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday briefed Prime Minister Narendra Modi about the recent developments regarding Ukraine. The Prime Minister reiterated his long-standing conviction that the differences between Russia and the NATO group can be resolved only through honest and sincere dialogue. 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.
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. The leaders agreed that their officials and diplomatic teams would continue to maintain regular contacts on issues of topical interest.
Meanwhile, at the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) meeting on the Ukraine crisis, Prime Minister Modi said that the topmost priority of the government is the safety and security of Indian nationals, said Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla on Thursday. Addressing a special briefing on the Ukraine situation following the CCS meet here, Shringla said, “At the CCS meeting, PM Modi has stated that the topmost priority of the government is the safety and security of Indian nationals including students in Ukraine.” Amid the ongoing Russian military operations in Ukraine, the Prime Minister on Thursday chaired a CCS meeting in New Delhi.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, External Affairs Minister Dr S. Jaishankar, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Commerce & Industry Minister Piyush Goyal, Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas of India Hardeep Singh Puri, among others, were present in the meeting.
Earlier in the day, PM Modi also met Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and other officials including Home Minister Amit Shah and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh to discuss the economic impact of the Russia-Ukraine crisis and ways to mitigate the impact of rising crude oil prices.
Shringla also added that a number of steps have been taken to deal with the emerging situation in Ukraine. “We started the registration of Indian nationals in Ukraine about a month ago. Based on online registration, we found that 20,000 Indian nationals were there.” He also said that the situation on the ground is difficult and is rapidly evolving adding that 4,000 Indian nationals have already left Ukraine in the past few days. The MEA control room in Delhi has got 980 calls and 850 emails.
Shringla also said that External Affairs Minister Dr S. Jaishankar will speak to the foreign ministers of Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Hungary. On the safety of Indian nationals, Shringla added, “One important step we have taken is to pursue all universities in Ukraine to conduct online classes. PM Modi has specifically stated that the MEA should do everything possible for our citizens in Ukraine.”
“Our Embassy in Ukraine continues to be functional. A number of advisories have been issued by embassies on the situation as it evolves. We’re consulting universities, student contractors in the process of providing welfare and safety of our students,” he added.
Talking of the conflict, Shirngla said, “In our statements in the UNSC, in all of this, I think we have maintained that people need to talk to each other, parties need to be engaged. If there is anything that we can do to facilitate that engagement, we are more than happy to do. I think as we go along, we will try and be as helpful as possible.”
He was asked if India is playing any role in talking to both US and Russia on the Russia-Ukraine crisis and the military operations initiated by Russia. The Foreign Secretary said India has maintained the best of relations with all countries concerned. “Whether it is USA, Russia or the European Union. We have been in touch with all parties concerned. As you can imagine, both as a member of the Security Council as a country with a lot at stake in that region. As a country with so many of its citizens in the vulnerable zone, we have been in close touch with all concerned. The Minister of External Affairs was in Europe where he has had a number of meetings with his interlocutors,” Shringla said.