As Indian authorities continued to step up their evacuation efforts, Indian Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi expressed his gratitude towards his Polish, Romanian and Slovak counterparts for aiding New Delhi in bringing back its nationals from Ukraine, emphasising the need to respect the “territorial integrity and sovereignty” of all countries.
Modi also voiced his concern over the “deteriorating situation and humanitarian crisis in Ukraine” while speaking with the European Council President Charles Michel and French President Emmanuel Macron separately on Tuesday. During both discussions, he highlighted the importance of respecting international law, especially the United Nations (UN) Charter.
I expressed my condolences to @PMOIndia for the loss of life of an Indian student in #Kharkiv today due to indiscriminate Russian attacks against innocent civilians.
— Charles Michel (@eucopresident) March 1, 2022
European countries 🇵🇱🇭🇺🇸🇰🇲🇩🇺🇦🇪🇺are wholeheartedly helping Indian citizens to evacuate from #Ukraine pic.twitter.com/VzG3OX3o47
Furthermore, he stressed the need to ensure “free and uninterrupted humanitarian access” and allow the “smooth movement of all people.” PM Modi informed the European leaders of India’s evacuation operations, along with its decision to dispatch humanitarian aid and relief, including medicines and food supplies, to assist those stranded in Ukraine.
During his phone call with Polish President Andrzej Duda, Modi also touched on the two countries’ traditionally friendly relationship, especially Poland’s help during the Gujarat earthquake in 2001 and the Maharaja of Jamnagar’s hand in rescuing several Polish families and young orphans during the Second World War. The conversation was scheduled just a day after he held discussions with his Romanian and Slovak counterparts, Nicolae-Ionel Ciucă and Eduard Heger.
Modi thanked his Romanian and Polish counterparts for relaxing visa requirements for Indians seeking to cross over to their countries to take the repatriation flights back home. In addition, he informed the leaders of India’s decision to deploy Indian Union ministers to all three countries to oversee evacuation procedures.
Following a high-level meeting with several of his Cabinet ministers on Monday, Modi dispatched four of his top brass to Europe. Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas Hardeep Singh Puri, Minister of Civil Aviation Jyotiraditya Scindia, Minister of Law and Justice Kiren Rijiju, and Minister of State in the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways VK Singh will respectively travel to Hungary, Romania and Moldova, Slovakia, and Poland.
Ever since the beginning of Russia’s military operation in Ukraine, which now enters its sixth day, Indian authorities have been conducting evacuations under “Operation Ganga,” with Jaishankar vowing that they “will not rest” until the remaining 12,000 Indians are brought back. Over the past 24 hours, six repatriation flights have brought back 1,377 Indians from Ukraine.
Meanwhile, the Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) confirmed the death of an Indian student in Kharkiv as hundreds of others continue to remain stranded in Ukraine.
#OperationGanga developments.
— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) March 2, 2022
Six flights have now departed for India in the last 24 hours. Includes the first flights from Poland.
Carried back 1377 more Indian nationals from Ukraine.
With profound sorrow we confirm that an Indian student lost his life in shelling in Kharkiv this morning. The Ministry is in touch with his family.
— Arindam Bagchi (@MEAIndia) March 1, 2022
We convey our deepest condolences to the family.
The statements put out by the MEA appear to suggest a slight shift in India’s tone and stance, given that New Delhi urged respect for all countries’ “territorial integrity and sovereignty.” Seeing as it also previously abstained from voting on a resolution that condemned and called for an end to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and a withdrawal of its troops, India has hinted at displeasure with Russia’s actions. However, it continues to refrain from making any direct references to its longtime ally, which it relies on for 60-70% of its military equipment.
According to government officials cited by The Hindu, India’s decision to abstain from voting allowed it to retain the option of “reaching out to relevant sides in an effort to bridge the gap and find the middle ground with an aim to foster dialogue and diplomacy.”
In fact, Modi has attempted to calm tensions by speaking with Vladimir Putin last week, wherein he urged the Russian leader to de-escalate and reaffirmed his support for all sides to return to “the path of diplomatic negotiations and dialogue.”