PM Modi speaks to Putin, Requests safe evacuation of Indians stuck in Sumy

TIL Desk/National/New Delhi/ Prime Minister Narendra Modi engaged in a telephonic conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin during which he conveyed his “deep concern” over the safety and security of the Indian students stuck in Ukraine’s Sumy city and sought their evacuation at the earliest.

During the 50-minute telephonic conversation, Modi also suggested that a direct conversation between Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy may greatly assist the ongoing peace efforts.

Official sources said Modi stressed the importance of safe evacuation of Indian citizens from Sumy at the earliest and that Putin assured him of all possible cooperation to safely get them out of the northeastern Ukrainian city. Around 700 Indian students are stranded in Sumy amid intense fighting between Russian and Ukrainian troops.

“Prime Minister Modi conveyed his deep concern for the safety and security of the Indian students still remaining in Sumy,” the PMO said in a statement. It said Putin briefed the Prime Minister about the ongoing measures related to “humanitarian corridors” for facilitating the evacuation of civilians including Indian students.