India Wants Russia-Ukraine Talks To Include ‘Safe Passage’ For Its Nationals

India has told Ukraine and Russia, in no uncertain terms, to ensure safe passage for its students and other citizens who are presently stranded in the various parts of the strife-torn country. For this, Delhi has asked Kyiv and Moscow to include this on priority basis in the agenda of “ceasefire talks” being held somewhere along Belarusian border.

Top diplomatic sources told The Daily Guardian that the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has given this message to the ambassadors of Ukraine and Russia, who were summoned on Tuesday over killing of an Indian student Naveen Shekharappa in Kharkiv. MEA gave a stern message to Ukrainian and Russian envoys over the killing of the Indian student. “Both the ambassadors were asked to explain how Kyiv and Moscow are going to facilitate the evacuation of Indians stranded in Kharkiv and other troubled regions of war-torn Ukraine in what is being seen as Delhi toughening its stand now,” sources told The Daily Guardian.

Indian embassies in Russia and Ukraine have been asked to put pressure on both the governments for the safe passage of students from the conflict-hit country, sources said. Indian diplomats in Moscow have urged the Putin government to facilitate students’ evacuation from the Russian side as well. Russia and Ukraine governments must respond to India’s request seeking safe passage for its students, sources at the MEA said. “This should be on the dialogue table between both the countries,” sources said.

“The deteriorating situation in Ukraine is a matter of grave concern. The safety and security of Indian nationals in the conflict zones is of utmost priority to the government. This has been taken up with the Russian and Ukrainian envoys,” sources told this newspaper.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired a high-level meeting on the Ukraine evacuations on Tuesday evening hours after heavy shelling killed an Indian student in Kharkiv. This was his fourth meeting in two days. Sources said PM Modi asked MEA officials to intensify efforts to work on two fronts. One, it should be ensured that Indian citizens including students are evacuated safely from Ukraine at the earliest. Two, till the time they are airlifted from the war-torn country, safety and other convenience of every single citizen of India should be top priority. The Prime Minister also spoke to the deceased student’s family in Haveri, Karnataka. At this crucial time, the government is also thinking of deploying Air force planes to bring back citizens. Several C-17 aircraft may become part of “Operation Ganga”, India’s rescue mission in Ukraine.