NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said that the government will spare no effort to bring Indian citizens out of Ukraine safely.
“We are working day and night to bring back all Indians trapped in the midst of war. We also know the hardships our children have had to endure... We will leave no stone unturned to ensure that every Indian has a safe passage back home,” the Prime Minister said, his remarks coinciding with what seemed to be a six-hour window given by the Russians for Indians and others to leave Kharkiv, the city in eastern Ukraine bordering Russia.
“The situation has worsened in many parts... Inclement weather has also made things difficult. This is why the government attempted to evacuate Indian citizens from areas where the war has had more impact,” Modi said in an interview with Hindi daily Hindustan.
“For this, I personally spoke to many heads of state. All government departments are involved in this mission with full coordination,” the Prime Minister said.
“Our embassy was in contact with the students long before the war broke out. Before the conflict started, there used to be a cap on the number of flights between India and Ukraine due to the Covid ‘air bubble’. But before the conflict escalated, we worked with Ukrainian authorities and eased these restrictions,” the Prime Minister said.
Addresing an election rally at UP’s Sonbhadra, PM Modi also said the evacuation had been made possible by “India’s rising power” on the global stage.
