New Delhi: As cries to evacuate Indian nationals from Ukraine grow louder, Kyiv’s ambassador to New Delhi, Igor Polikha, said Monday that it’s Russian President Vladimir Putin who ought to ensure the students’ safety as Moscow is the “aggressor”.
“Assurances should be given by Putin to Indian students. We work for the foreign ministry. Now your politicians are trying to solve this issue and the Ukrainian side is trying to help… It’s a war, it’s a deep crisis,” the ambassador said when asked about the status of Indian students stranded in his country.
At a press conference, the envoy said he is in regular contact with border guards and commanders in the war zone.
This comes a day after reports emerged of Indian students stranded in the conflict areas of Kharkiv and Sumy running out of food and water supplies, and also of several allegedly being assaulted by Ukrainian guards, at the Polish border.
“I can assure you that we are there to help,” Polikha said.
‘Stop the war’
The ambassador said Ukraine does not want the war, but did not provide any details on what can be expected from the meeting between Moscow and Kyiv at Ukraine’s border with Belarus. The talks have now begun.
He said that the Indian side is in regular touch with Ukraine at all levels, and that India has agreed to give Ukraine humanitarian aid.
Comparing the “humanitarian catastrophe” Ukraine faces to India’s experience of Partition, when millions turned refugees, the ambassador said that if the war continues, it would create as many as 7 million (70 lakh) refugees.
“Please help us to stop the war,” he said.
The Ukrainian ambassador said that Russia is facing “unprecedented” casualties, which may have reached 5,300 soldiers, while its economy is being “crippled” by sanctions imposed on it.
He added that Russia has also suffered losses in military hardware, with tanks, guns, and fighter planes destroyed.
(Edited by Rohan Manoj)
Also read: India sending teams from Moscow, alerts Red Cross to evacuate students from Kharkiv, Sumy