PM Modi’s intervention led to a ceasefire in Ukraine conflict: EAM Jaishankar.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has revealed how Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s intervention proved pivotal in halting fighting between Russian and Ukrainian forces, facilitating the safe evacuation of Indian students stranded in conflict zones.
In an interview, Jaishankar said PM Modi called Russian President Vladimir Putin twice in March to pause shelling—first in Kharkiv to allow students to reach a safe corridor and again in Sumy, which involved a complex three-way understanding.
Regarding Kharkiv, the EAM said as students were moving towards safety, the Russian army was shelling near the corridor. Modi sought Putin’s guidance to stop firing till the evacuation was completed.
In Sumy, fighting raged between Russian and Ukrainian armies with the involvement of local militias as well. India sent senior officials to boost morale while Modi spoke to Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
They instructed their sides to cooperate with India to create a sanitized route for students to depart on buses safely via the pathway.
Jaishankar described four exit routes, but safety could not be assured without a ceasefire agreement between the parties. He hailed the Modi government’s persistent efforts to rescue thousands of nationals from the conflict zone.
The EAM’s remarks brought to the fore the pivotal behind-the-scenes role played by the Prime Minister through direct interface with global leaders in defusing the Ukraine crisis to protect Indian lives.
