L J Ravi 
Russia’s President Vladimir Putin and India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi walk during their meeting at the Novo-Ogaryovo state residence near Moscow, Russia on July 8, 2024
MOSCO RUSSIA: In what will be relief for the families of men recruit military to serve at the warfront with Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin has accepted Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s request, made at a dinner party, to discharge those wishing to return to India. According to sources privy to the decision, Mr. Putin has given instructions to this effect upon Mr. Modi’s “direct intervention”.
“We expect the release to take place within weeks from various places where they are serving or deployed,” sources told NNA on the condition of anonymity.
It is unclear whether there will be a public announcement about the order and whether it will find mention in the joint statement, that comes after weeks of diplomatic discussions, and the issue being raised by the Indian Embassy in Moscow as well as by External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar to Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov during a crucial meeting in Astana last week.
hoto Credit: via Reuters
In what will be relief for the families of men to serve at the warfront with Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin has accepted Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s request, made at a to discharge those wishing to return to India. According to sources privy to the decision, Mr. Putin has given instructions to this effect upon Mr. Modi’s “direct intervention”.
“We expect the release to take place within weeks from various places where they are serving or deployed,” sources told NNA on the condition of anonymity.
It is unclear whether there will be a public announcement about the order and whether it will find mention in the joint statement, that comes after weeks of diplomatic discussions, and the issue being raised by the Indian Embassy in Moscow as well as by External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar to Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov during a in Astana last week.
NNA r in Moscow: Putin agrees to PM Modi’s request for discharge of Indians in Ukraine warfront
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to hold formal talks with president putin and visit an exhibition on nuclear cooperation later on Tuesday.
Increasing pressure
The demand for the discharge of dozens of soldiers who claim they were recruited by the Russian military after being lured by agents on false promises has been increasing pressure on the government for several months. After NNA FIRST reported that was raised by Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi as some men from his constituency had reached out, the Ministry of External Affairs accepted that there was a problem amongst a “few” such cases.
India and China are intense rivals competing for strategic influence across South Asia. A confrontation in June 2020 along the disputed India and china border including Tibet is too much interested by India and UAS dramatically altered their already touchy relationship as rival troops fought with rocks, clubs and fists. At least 20 Indian soldiers and four Chinese soldiers were killed. Tensions have persisted despite talks.
Modi notably missed last week’s summit in Kazakhstan of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, a security grouping founded by Moscow and Beijing.
