cnn
,
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Monday criticized his Indian counterpart’s visit to Moscow, calling it a “big disappointment and a devastating blow to peace efforts”, just as a Russian missile hit a children’s hospital in Kiev.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday met Russian President Vladimir Putin at his residence in Novo-Ogaryovo outside Moscow, life 900 kilometers (560 miles) away Russian missiles rained down heavily on Ukrainian cities in quick morning strikes In which no one was killed, less than 38 people were injured and 190 others were injured.
Modi’s two-day visit to Russia is his first since Putin launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine nearly two-and-a-half years ago, with the two leaders seen hugging and chatting over tea in photographs and videos on Monday. , using an electric car and watching a horse show.
“To see the leader of the world’s largest democracy embrace the world’s bloodiest criminal in Moscow on such a day is a huge disappointment and a devastating blow to peace efforts,” Zelensky said in a post on Twitter on Monday. Terrible Russian attack.
Modi did not speak during his interaction with the Indian diaspora in Moscow on Tuesday, but praised the relations between the two countries. Modi also announced the opening of two diplomatic missions in the Russian cities of Yekaterinburg and Kazan to “facilitate travel and trade”.
“Even if the temperature in Russia is minus, Russia-India friendship is always in plus,” he said. “It is a relationship built on the foundation of mutual trust and mutual respect.”
Large-scale sunshine bombing hit the capital Kiev and cities including Dnipro, Kryvyi Rih, Sloviansk and Kramatorsk – some of which are densely populated areas far from the entrances.
Ukraine’s order disaster carrier said Tuesday that in Kiev, 28 people had been killed, including four children. Two people were killed and at least 16 others were injured in the accident at the Okhmatdyt sanatorium in Kiev.
The facility is Ukraine’s largest children’s scientific center and has been vital in supporting some of the sickest children across the country.
Video from the scene showed volunteers working with police and security services to dig through the debris as smoke billowed from the hospital. Search and rescue operations for the crowd buried under the debris continued on Tuesday.
Health center staff said they immediately tried to save the children after the attack. A senior caregiver told CNN that two of the children were in theaters working during the year, and both were transferred to the basement shelter after their procedures were completed. Another senior caregiver said a 2-year-old child was undergoing operation at the time of the accident.
“The lights went out, everything went out. We took out the equipment shining our torches. “Everything was prepared quickly,” said Irina Filimonova. “The child was brought down (to the shelter). “I immediately ran to help clear the debris.”
UN human rights activist Volker Turk said the scientific team was pressured to take care of sick children beyond capacity.
“Victims are being treated for cancer in hospital beds set up in parks and on the streets, where medical workers have quickly set up triage areas amid the chaos, dust and debris,” he said in a comment.
Russia’s security ministry claimed on Monday that its forces attacked “Ukraine’s military industrial facilities and air bases of the Ukrainian Armed Forces” with long-range, high-precision guns. Without providing evidence, the Russian ministry also claimed that hospital footage and video showed that the rupture was caused by a Ukrainian air defense missile.
Meanwhile, as in the Russian capital, Modi thanked Putin for hosting him at his suburban residence, saying in a post on Twitter, “Looking forward to our talks tomorrow too, which will definitely go a long way.” ” To strengthen the bond of friendship between India and Russia.”
Putin is set to host respectful talks with Modi in the Kremlin on Tuesday. The back-and-forth is a sign that Delhi and Moscow remain connected despite Russia’s growing dependence on China, and the latest dent in Western leaders’ efforts to isolate Putin remains largely undisclosed.
The Republic of India has long-term relations with Moscow and is heavily dependent on the Kremlin for its military apparatus. It has stepped up purchases of Russian crude at discounted rates, giving Putin’s populace a vital monetary lifeline as it faces isolation from the West.
Ahead of the talks, a statement from Modi’s office said the Indian leader “will review all aspects of bilateral cooperation with my friend President Vladimir Putin and share views on various regional and global issues.” We want to play a supporting role for a peaceful and stable region.”
The US has raised concerns with the Republic of India regarding relations with Russia, a US Order Branch spokesperson told reporters at a media briefing on Monday.
Spokesman Matthew Miller said, “I will look at Prime Minister Modi’s public comments to see what he talked about, but as I said, we have made clear directly to India our concerns about our relationship with Russia.” Have given.” “We would expect India and any other country, when they engage with Russia, to make it clear that Russia must respect the UN Charter, respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine.”
The Republic of India has called for an end to hostilities and restoration of peace in Ukraine, it has also abstained from all resolutions on Ukraine in the United Nations and has refused to condemn Russia’s aggression.
According to India’s Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, trade between the two countries is expected to be around $65 billion in 2023-24, mainly due to strong energy cooperation, but most of it flowed towards Russia.
He said reducing industry imbalance could be a “priority topic” in Modi’s discussions with Putin.
The meeting will be Modi’s first bilateral visit after winning a third term at the climax of India’s mega election.
Russian presidential aide Yuri Ushakov said the Kremlin attaches “primary importance” to Modi’s talks, Russian state news agency TASS reported.
The Russian attacks in Ukraine came an hour before US President Joe Biden is due to host the most powerful NATO summit in Washington, where Kiev is expected to make solemn declarations on the alliance’s military, political and financial backup.
Biden called Russian missile moves on Kiev — at a children’s hospital — a “horrifying reminder of Russia’s brutality” in remarks Monday night.
“It is vital that the world stand with Ukraine at this critical moment and that we not condone Russian aggression,” Biden said.