Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a high-level meeting to discuss the situation in Ukraine, which is currently in conflict with Russia. At the meeting, Modi stressed that the safety of Indian students stranded in Ukraine, and evacuating them, are top priorities, PTI reported. 

Further, the agency reported Modi presided over the meeting and discussed enhancing cooperative relations with Ukraine’s neighbours to expedite the evacuation process. The meeting, which Modi chaired after returning from Uttar Pradesh, was attended by top government officials, along with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar. 

Already, Tata-owned Air India flights have been bringing Indians back from Ukraine, and they’ve been assured of the country’s commitments to bring all its nationals home safely, as well. To that extent, PM Modi spoke to both Ukrainian and Russian presidents, Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Vladimir Putin, respectively. He took stock of the situation and received assurances of the countrypeople’s safety. 

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One of the students returning from Ukraine to Delhi spoke to ANI about the situation in Ukraine, saying, “Many students are staying in bunkers due to attacks against Ukraine. The situation is difficult. Thanks to govt that they evacuated us on time”. 

So far, India has remained neutral on the Russia-Ukraine conflict, choosing to walk a diplomatic tightrope and urge all sides to maintain peace. The nation even abstained at the United Nations Security Council meeting to float the proposal which would require Russia to immediately stop the invasion of Ukraine. 

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India justified this stance as per PTI’s reports of government sources that the country kept the avenue open to reach out to concerned parties and find a diplomatic resolution to the crisis via dialogue. 

While Russia has praised India’s decision to remain neutral and unbiased, Ukrainian President Zeleneskyy urged PM Modi to lend political support in the UNSC to stop Russia’s aggression together.