PM Modi prioritizes student evacuation at High-Level Meeting

New Delhi: As the stranded Indians being left to fend for themselves in war-torn Ukraine, Prime Minister Modi reportedly assured officials of ensuring safe home-coming of them the government's top priority.

PM Modi chaired a high-level meeting on Sunday after returning from Uttar Pradesh spending time on the stump for campaigning, according to NDTV.

At a rally in Basti, Uttar Pradesh, PM Modi said India "left no stone unturned to bring our citizens back... (from) wherever there is trouble, NDTV reported.

The meeting discussed furthering cooperation with Ukraine's neigbouring countries to facilitate students 'evacuation.

Mostly students making up 16,000 have been caught in Ukraine since the war.

Earlier on Thursday evening, PM Modi had closeted with the Cabinet Committee of Security.

At this meeting as well, Prime Minister reportedly stressed the need to bringing home Indian nationals.

Subsequently, he spoke to Russian President Vladmir Putin appealing for " immediate cessation of violence". He also rammed home India's 'highest priority' safety return of Indians from Ukraine.

Later Russia authorities said that PM Modi " Thanked President Putin for the clarification and asked for assistance in ensuring the security of Indian citizens currently in Ukraine". Putin reportedly said about giving " necessary instructions" regarding evacuation of Indians.

Russian forces made a short shrift of Ukraine attacking capital Kyiv, which led to closure of airspace over Ukraine slowing evacuation.

In the ensuring chaos Indian students got stranded in their hostels, some knocked about in the street looking for safety, many walked miles in freezing cold to reach borders.

Over the last days, students have been evacuated on flights from Hungary, Poland, the Slovak Republic and Romania -- nations which share border with Ukraine, NDTV reported.