IAF ready to airlift stranded Indians from Ukraine: MEA

New Delhi, Feb 25 (IANS) Indian Air Force is ready to airlift nationals stranded in Ukraine, along with commercial aircraft, Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla said on Thursday, adding India is in touch with both Russia and Ukraine as a "stakeholder".

"Ministry of External Affairs is in touch with the Ministry of Defence. We have told them that we will need provisions for airlift. In that case, the IAF can go along with commercial aircraft... All options are on the table," said Shringla.

He also said that India's topmost priority is safety and security of Indian nationals and their evacuation.

The Foreign Secretary stated that External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar has spoken to his Polish, Romanian, Hungarian, and Slovakian counterparts for setting up a camp at border areas for evacuation of stranded Indian nationals.

He also stated that flight options are available through Dubai and Istanbul and that the Indian Embassy continues to be operational in Ukraine.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi discussed the ongoing crisis in Ukraine with Russian President Vladimir Putin and stated that the differences between Russia and the NATO group can only be resolved through honest and sincere dialogue.

The Russian President briefed Modi about the recent developments regarding Ukraine, while Modi appealed for an immediate cessation of violence, and called for concerted efforts from all sides to return to the path of diplomatic negotiations and dialogue.

The Prime Minister also sensitised the Russian President about India's concerns regarding the safety of the Indian citizens in Ukraine, especially students, and conveyed that India attaches the highest priority to their safe exit and return to India.

 Indian students stranded in Ukraine are making appeals to be evacuated, if not to the homeland, then to any country which is safe.

The appeal comes in the wake of Russian President Vladimir Putin's launch of military operation against Ukraine on Thursday morning and subsequent explosions across the country.

Several Indian students are studying at Vinnytsia National Pirogov Medical University, V.N. Karazin Kharkiv National University, Dnipro State Medical University, Chernivtsi National University in Ukraine.

Most of the students were scheduled to return to India this week but due to the unavailability of flights, they could not be evacuated.

Aryan, a student of Vinnytsia National Pirogov Medical University, told IANS: "Tension has escalated in many areas in Ukraine. Explosions can be heard at a distance. Many students have left their homes and hostels and are staying in a group."

Aryan said many of his friends reached the airport to fly back to India but due to unavailability of flights, they have to wait for hours, while many of them are stranded at railway stations.

Meanwhile, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has shared a message of Indian Embassy for those stranded in Ukraine.

The embassy said: "Students should stay put wherever they are, should not panic. Students should not travel to Ukraine's capital Kiev."

Many students of V.N. Karazin Kharkiv National University are constantly in touch with the Indian embassy.

Kiran, an MBBS student said: "Many students were going to Kiev by train to board a flight. In the meantime, they got the information that flights have been cancelled due to which they got worried. First flights, and then train movement was also stopped. Train was stopped 15 km away from Kiev."

After standing for hours in train, when the students reached the railway station, there was no taxi or other vehicle available.

Ankit, an MBBS student said, right now, he is staying with six Indian students which includes two girls.

As per the students, initially, only few areas of Ukraine were tensed. Ternopil, where Indian students stay, was peaceful till Wednesday night but now explosions could be heard here as well, the students said.

Another Indian student Sandy said situation is grim in Ternopil now. People staying here are leaving in groups in search of a safe place, but most of them are confined to their homes.

Around 4,000-5,000 Indian students study at Kharkiv National University.

Ankit said that he has spoken to Embassy officials who have assured him that efforts are being made to evacuate the stranded Indian nationals.

Ankit said: "Situation here has turned tense. People have made a beeline at medical and grocery stores. Shops are mostly shut. So, it is necessary to evacuate students on time. Students here are worried about their safety."