New Delhi
Is India emerging as a potential peacemaker in the Russia-Ukraine conflict that is a front for Russia versus the USA battle with President Vladimir Putin calling Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the US President Joe Biden saying that “we are consulting India?”
Putin took time off to speak with Modi on a day when Russia has launched massive airstrikes against Ukraine. According to the Russian embassy in India, Putin explained to Modi the reasons for his ordering operation against Ukraine.
In Washington DC, US President Joe Biden, while addressing the nation on Thursday (local time), said that the US is in consultations with India over the Russia-Ukraine crisis. Replying to the questions whether India is with the US over the Ukraine crisis, Biden said, "We are in consultation with India today, we haven't resolved that completely."
In Delhi, the Russian Embassy said, “In a phone call, Vladimir Putin outlined the fundamental assessments of Kyiv's aggressive actions against the civilian population of Donbas, as well as its long-lasting destructive policy to scrap the Minsk agreements.’
The embassy released a press statement in the morning about the Putin-Modi telephonic conversation.
It said Putin told Modi that “in connection with the unacceptable of the Russian military development of the US and its NATO allies on the territory of Ukraine, it was decided to launch a special military operation.”
The release claimed PM Modi thanked the Russian leader for clarification and asked for the security of Indian citizens currently in Ukraine.
According to the Indian version, Modi reiterated his long-standing conviction that the differences between Russia and the NATO group can only be resolved through honest and sincere dialogue.
Modi also appealed for an immediate cessation of hostilities and called for concerted efforts from all sides to return to the path of diplomatic negotiations and dialogue.
The two leaders also spoke about some issues of bilateral cooperation agreed upon in the India-Russia summit held in Delhi in 2020.
Prime Minister also sensitized the Russian President about India's concerns regarding the safety of the Indian citizens in Ukraine, especially students, and conveyed that India attaches the highest priority to their safe exit and return to India.
Both the leaders agreed that their officials and diplomatic teams would continue to maintain regular contacts on issues of topical interests
As the Russian Air Force is striking targets in Ukraine, the parents of some 70 medical and engineering students in that country who hail from Mewat, the Meo Muslim-majority district of Haryana, are a worried lot.
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