New Delhi: As Russian forces attacked cities in Ukraine, Prime Minister Narendra Modi called Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday night, interesting for “direct termination of violence” and emphasized that India attacked the highest interest of Ukraine from Ukraine.
A statement from the Prime Minister’s office said PM Modi called for “joint efforts from all parties to return to the route of diplomatic negotiation and dialogue”.
He reaffirmed “the old belief that the differences between Russia and the NATO group can only be resolved through honest and sincere dialogue,” the statement was read.
President Putin has given PM Modi’s direction of recent developments regarding Ukraine.
The prime minister also discussed India’s concern about the safety of Indian citizens in Ukraine, especially students. India, he said, attach the highest priority to their safe and returning solutions.
“The leaders agreed that their officials and the diplomatic team would continue to maintain regular contact about topical interest issues,” the statement added.
Russia began military operations against Ukraine on Thursday morning after months of tension over the proximity of the former Soviet Republic with NATO.
Tanks and other heavy equipment are rolled into several northern Ukrainian regions, separatist areas controlled in the east that Russia has been officially recognized as independent countries and the Crimean-Dianeksan Kremen Peninsula in the south.
All day long, Russian missiles go down in many cities. The Russian Ministry of Defense said it destroyed 74 military infrastructure facilities on land in Ukraine, including 11 aerodrom. Ukraine said Russia had carried out 203 attacks from the day.
At least 68 soldiers and civilians – killed, according to AFP calculations from various official Ukrainian sources.
Mr. Putin, who previously claimed that Ukraine was a Western doll, today told the country’s business representatives, “what happened left us without choice”.
In the afternoon, Ukrainian envoys Igor Polikha has been looking for Indian intervention at this time, saying, “Modi-ji’s attention made me hope that with a strong voice of Modi Ji, Putin would think”.
On Thursday night, PM Modi held a meeting with the top ministers, where he underscored the need to focus on carrying Indian citizens safely.
“At the CCS meeting, PM Modi has stated that the government’s top priority is the safety and security of Indian citizens including students in Ukraine,” said the Secretary of Foreign Affairs Harsh Vardhan Shringla.