Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday and sought the safe evacuation of Indians from Ukraine’s Sumy at the earliest, PTI reported, quoting official sources.

Around 700 Indian students are reportedly stuck in Sumy, a city in north-eastern Ukraine, which has been witnessing intense fighting between Russian and Ukrainian troops.

In phone talks that lasted for close to an hour, Modi reportedly asked Putin to directly talk to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in addition to the ongoing negotiations between their teams, the sources told PTI.

He also appreciated the announcement of ceasefire and the establishment of humanitarian corridors in parts of Ukraine.

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Hours before talking to Putin, PM Modi reportedly spoke to Zelensky in a phone call that lasted about 35 minutes.

“Prime Minister Modi sought continued support from the government of Ukraine in ongoing efforts for evacuation of Indian nationals from Sumy,” sources said, NDTV reported. 

Meanwhile, after the talks,  Zelenskyy tweeted that he has informed PM Modi about the need to counter the “Russian aggression” against his country.

“Informed Indian Prime Minister @narendramodi about Ukraine countering Russian aggression. India appreciates the assistance to its citizens during the war and Ukraine’s commitment to direct peaceful dialogue at the highest level. Grateful for the support to the Ukrainian people. #StopRussia,” Zelenskyy tweeted.

The Indian students stranded in Sumy are seeing “no ray of hope.” 

There is no power, no water supply and shops are refusing to accept cards, even though ATMs in the city have run out of cash, said a distraught Indian medical student.

“It has been 10 days (since) we have been waiting here but there is no ray of hope (as to) when we will be evacuated,” she in a video message.