Putin, Modi discuss plight of Indian students trapped in Ukraine

Russian president orders soldiers ‘to ensure the safe exit of Indian nationals from the armed conflict zone’, says Kremlin.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has held talks with India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the urgent evacuation of Indian students trapped in the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv, the Kremlin says.

During their video call on Wednesday, Putin said he had ordered Russian soldiers “to ensure the safe exit of Indian nationals from the armed conflict zone and their return to their homeland,” according to a Kremlin statement.

Russia was trying to organize the emergency evacuation of a group of Indian students from Kharkiv via a humanitarian corridor, it added.

On Wednesday, the Ukrainian authorities said Russian paratroopers had landed in the eastern city, and that there was fighting in the streets.

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