Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi, Mar 8: Russia has declared a cease-fire today starting at 12:30 p.m. India time to perform a ‘humanitarian operation.’
The Russian embassy in India has published a list of ‘humanitarian corridors’ that it is willing to offer. It includes routes from Sumy, Ukraine, where over 600 Indian students have been stranded and have been unable to leave despite numerous attempts.
“In order to conduct a humanitarian operation from 12.30 IST on March 8, 2022, Russia declares cease-fire and is ready to provide humanitarian corridors,” the Russian embassy in India tweeted.
In order to conduct a humanitarian operation from 12.30 IST on March 8, 2022, Russia declares cease-fire and is ready to provide humanitarian corridors. Read more ➡️ https://t.co/5FkSKPsLPj pic.twitter.com/oypKjjEExz
— Russia in India 🇷🇺 (@RusEmbIndia) March 8, 2022
India brought up the subject during yesterday’s UN Security Council meeting on Ukraine.
“India is deeply concerned that despite our repeated urgings” to both Russia and Ukraine, the “safe corridor for our students stranded in Sumy did not materialise,” said Ambassador TS Tirumurti, India’s permanent representative at the UN.
Russia has promised humanitarian corridors from Sumy by two routes to Poltava and to “the territory of the Russian Federation to Belgorod – thereafter by air, train and road transport to designated locations or temporary accommodation, in the southern direction – in accordance with the Ukrainian side”.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi had yesterday spoken to Presidents of both Russia and Ukraine, emphasising the need for an early ceasefire and for both parties to return to the road of discussion and diplomacy. He also expressed gratitude to both parties for assisting in the evacuation of Indian citizens from the conflict-torn region.
In the phone call with President Putin, PM Modi had emphasised the need of the safe evacuation of Indian citizens from Ukraine’s Sumy city at the earliest.
