New Delhi, Dec 06 (ANI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi receives Russian President Vladimir Putin at Hyderabad House, in New Delhi on Monday. The two leaders will hold the 21st annual India-Russia summit. (ANI Photo)
New Delhi [India], March 2 (ANI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin and reviewed the situation in Ukraine, especially in Kharkiv, according to the prime minister’s office on Wednesday. Both the leaders also discussed the safe evacuation of the Indian nationals from the conflict areas. “The leaders reviewed the situation in Ukraine, especially in the city of Kharkiv where many Indian students are stuck. They discussed the safe evacuation of the Indian nationals from the conflict areas,” the PMO statement said.
The Ministry of External Affairs on Wednesday said that nearly 17,000 Indian nationals have left Ukraine’s border since the first travel advisory was issued by the Indian Embassy in Kyiv and as many as 15 flights were scheduled over the next 24 hours. The MEA further said that PM Modi has been speaking to the leaders of several countries and has been sharing his concerns over the escalating turn of events in Ukraine.
On Monday, PM Modi spoke with Slovakian counterpart Eduard Heger while on Tuesday he spoke with French President Emmanuel Macron, President of the European Council Charles Michel and Polish President Andrzej Duda and shared his concerns over the humanitarian situation in Ukraine.
PM Modi reiterated India’s consistent appeal for cessation of hostilities and a return to dialogue and diplomacy. Moreover, PM Modi also spoke with President of the European Council Charles Michel and expressed his anguish over the deteriorating situation and humanitarian crisis in Ukraine. During the talks, PM Modi reiterated India’s appeal for cessation of hostilities and a return to dialogue, according to PMO release. (ANI)
India abstains from voting against Russia at UN General Assembly
India abstained from voting against Russia at United Nations General Assembly on Wednesday at the 11th emergency special session and fourth plenary meeting on the ongoing Russian military operation in Ukraine. Voting results displayed on screens at the UN General Assembly showed that 141 nations voted in favor of the move and five nations were against it, with 35 countries abstaining.
The UNGA overwhelmingly voted to condemn Russia‘s invasion of Ukraine. As the results were placed on the screen in the chamber, a rare standing ovation occurred, UNGA statement said. However, Russia‘s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Vassily Nebenzia said that Moscow is not carrying out strikes on civilians and civilian facilities.
Speaking at UN General Assembly (UNGA) emergency session on Wednesday, the Russian envoy said that a peaceful scenario of Ukraine could happen if the radicals were concerned about preserving lives of civilians rather than hiding behind them.
“We are not carrying out strikes on civilian facilities and civilians. A peaceful scenario of Ukraine could happen if the radicals concerned about preserving civilian lives rather than hiding behind them,” Vassily Nebenzia today.
Earlier on Sunday (local time), India abstained from voting on a resolution to call for a special emergency session of the UNGA on the Russia-Ukraine conflict. This came two days after India abstained from voting on the UNSC resolution condemning the Russian invasion of Ukraine, along with China and the UAE.
Justifying India‘s stand at UN General Assembly, Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla has said that it was based “on certain careful considerations” and taken “in the best interests” of the country. “In United Nations, we take positions that are based on certain careful considerations and certainly, we do regard the merits of each and every case that comes before us…take decisions in our best interest,” Shringla said while replying to India‘s decision to abstain from voting on a resolution to call for a special emergency session of the UN General Assembly on the Russia-Ukraine conflict. (ANI)
