New Delhi: The Government of India on Thursday (February 24) afternoon asserted that the fast-changing Ukraine situation is being monitored closely, and the focus as of now is on the safety of Indian nationals.
A key source said, "We are closely monitoring the rapidly changing situation. Focus is on safety and security of Indians, particularly students." The Ministry of External Affairs control room is being "expanded and made operational on 24×7 basis".
After Russian President Vladimir Putin authorised what he called a special military operation, Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said in a tweet that Russia had launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine and was targeting cities with weapons strikes.
Earlier in the day, some Indian nationals and students arrived at Delhi airport. "We received a message about the emergency situation in Ukraine for about a month or so, the Indian embassy also advised us to take precautionary step, so we landed back home," says a 24-year old student, who returned from Ukraine in the wake of Russia inspired conflict in that country. The crisis has deepened as Russian President Vladimir Putin has declared a 'military operation' in Ukraine.
Another student, on her arrival at Delhi airport, said, "The situation where I was living is not as bad as the place is far from the border. But our embassy told us to leave; came back after the advisory was issued."
Ukraine president Volodymyr Zelenskiy has given a powerful address directed to Russia. "We will defend ourselves, he said. 'Not attack, but defend ourselves. And when you attack us, you will see our faces, not our backs, but our faces," he said.
Zelenskiy made the remarks in a 10-minute address posted on Telegram during which he spoke in both Ukrainian and Russian, international media said. The Ukrainian leader also said Russia's president, Putin, had not replied to his invitation to hold talks.
On Wednesday, Russia welcomed the independent position India has taken in the UN Security Council twice already and
which was expressed openly by the Indian external affairs minister and other officials.
Russian Deputy Chief of Mission Roman Babushkin said India has been playing a vital role as a responsible global power and is taking an "independent and balanced" approach to world affairs.
