On Monday, the Union government of India has decided to send four of its union ministers for the evacuation of the Indian nationals who have been stuck in cities and border points in Ukraine amid escalating tensions. This came after the decision to ramp up the diplomatic efforts to evacuate students not just from Ukraine but from other developing nations as well. The government has also decided to send aid to Ukraine as part of its humanitarian gesture.
This announcement was made after a meeting was chaired by the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, who said that the entire machinery of the government was working round the clock to make sure that all the Indian there were safe and secure, as per the statement released by the PMO (Prime Minister’s Office). Prime Minister Modi has also spoken to the Prime Minister of Romania Nicolae-Ionel Ciuca and Slovakian Prime Minister Eduard Heger, the two neighbouring countries of Ukraine that India is targeting for evacuation of its citizens.
The most important element of the two phone calls to his counterparts in the neighbouring countries was the stressing upon the importance of respecting the territorial integrity and sovereignty of other countries. This language was first being articulated at the United Nations Security Council and was aimed at Russia’s actions against Ukraine. As per the statement by the Prime Minister’s Office, Modi had also expressed his deep anguish over the ongoing violence along with the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine. He also reiterated India’s consistent appeal for the cessation of hostilities and a return to diplomatic talks.
He mentioned that the first consignment of relief supplies from India to Ukraine to deal with the ongoing humanitarian crisis on the borders of Ukraine would be dispatched soon. This decision was taken after Ukraine had asked for help from India. This holds significance as India had earlier abstained from voting in the UNSC.
Around 20,000 Indian nationals were present in Ukraine, the government stated that almost 8000 among them have already left the country since the first advisory was released earlier this month. Almost 12,000 people are still stuck there, most of which are students in various medical colleges. The Union Ministers who will be sent for the evacuation are Kiren Rijiju, Hardeep Puri, Jyotiraditya Scindia, and General (retd.) V K Singh. Puri will be going to Hungary, Scindia will go to Romania and Moldova, Rijiju to Slovakia and Singh will be overseeing operations in Poland. All these ministers would be visiting these nations as Special Envoys of the Government of India.
The meeting that was chaired by the Prime Minister was also attended by the External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, Minister of Commerce and Industry and Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution and Textile Piyush Goyal, Principal Secretary PK Mishra, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval among other senior officials. Prime Minister had pointed out that sending these four ministers as Special Envoys of the Government would boost up the evacuation process and it was reflective of the priority that has been attached to the matter. He further added that India would be helping people from neighboring countries and developing countries who have been stranded in Ukraine and might seek assistance.