Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to speak to Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday night amid the escalating Ukraine-Russia crisis, reports news agency ANI.
Russia launched a serious offence on Ukraine on Thursday, hitting cities and bases with airstrikes or shelling, as civilians piled into trains and cars to flee. Putin deflected global condemnation and cascading new sanctions — and referred to his country's nuclear arsenal as he threatened any foreign country attempting to interfere with “consequences you have never seen”.
Earlier in the day, Ukrainian Ambassador to India Igor Polikha expressed dissatisfaction over India's response to Russian military offensive, and had sought New Delhi's support in defusing the situation.
Polikha had said India has special relationship with Russia and it can play a more proactive role in de-escalation of the situation.
He had also Modi is among very few leaders whom President Putin listens to and New Delhi can use its proximity with Moscow to control the situation.
Meanwhile, Modi is meeting Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to discuss the economic impact the Russia-Ukraine conflict will have on India.
