Russia has taken serious note of India’s call to end the recruitment of Indians as support staff to the Russian military and ensure the return of those still operating in the force, Indian media reported on Tuesday.
According to the Hindu, Russian President Vladimir Putin has accepted Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s request, made at a private dinner on Monday, to discharge those wishing to return to India in what will be relief for the families of men recruited into the Russian military to serve at the warfront with Ukraine.
According to sources privy to the decision, Putin has given instructions to this effect upon Modi’s “direct intervention”.
“We expect the release to take place within weeks from various places where they are serving or deployed,” the Hindu reported citing an anonymous source.
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 meeting on the sidelines of the SCO Summit in Astana last week, the Hindu added.
Meanwhile, the Press Trust of India reported that the Ministry of External Affairs had also said the issue of Indian nationals serving with the Russian Army remains a matter of “utmost concern” and demanded action from Moscow over it.