An Indian soldier died fighting with Russian forces in Ukraine, one of his relatives said Monday, the fifth confirmed death so far of an Indian citizen in the conflict.
Hundreds of Indians are among the thousands of foreign soldiers Moscow is believed to have hired to bolster its forces, and New Delhi has urged their repatriation.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow this month and was “given assurance” to that effect, India’s foreign ministry said.
Ravi Moun, 22, went to Russia in January after he was promised a job in transport by a private recruitment agent, his brother Ajay told AFP by phone.
But he was later given weapons training and forced to join fighting on the frontier with Ukraine in March.
“After losing contact with him, I approached the Indian embassy in Moscow and they informed us that my brother has died,” Ajay said, adding the family was asked by the embassy to send DNA samples to identify Moun’s body.
Ajay said his brother had returned from the frontier once, but was later taken to fight again.
It was unclear when he had died.
“We lost contact with him after that,” Ajay said, adding that his family had appealed for help from Modi to bring Moun’s body back.
More than two years since Russia’s invasion began, tens of thousands of its soldiers have been killed in Ukraine, and Moscow has been on a global quest for more troops.
India’s foreign ministry said last week that the government was still working with Russian authorities to bring back around 50 Indians fighting alongside the Russian army.
Four other Indian soldiers have died so far this year, according to local media reports.
Indian authorities have arrested several people accused of trafficking citizens of the country to fight for the Russian army after promising them non-combatant roles.
Unemployment remains high in India despite rapid economic growth and huge numbers seek work abroad each year.
That includes thousands who had sought employment in Israel after labor shortages sparked by the war against Palestinian militants in Gaza.
India is a longstanding ally of Russia and has shied away from explicit condemnation of the invasion of Ukraine.
Modi said he had discussed the conflict “openly and in detail” during his meeting with Putin this month, calling for peaceful dialogue and adding that “war cannot solve problems.”
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Fifth Indian killed fighting in Ukraine for Russia
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Fifth Indian killed fighting in Ukraine for Russia
- Hundreds of Indians are among the thousands of foreign soldiers Moscow is believed to have hired to bolster its forces
Ukraine, US, Europe still seeking common ground in peace talks, French official says
- French presidency official: “The European perspective of Ukraine is clear and it’s a realistic perspective”
PARIS: Ukraine, the United States and European powers are still working to find a joint position that would outline the contours of a peace deal, including security guarantees for Kyiv, that could be taken to Russia, a French presidency official said on Friday.
“Our goal is to have a common foundation that is solid for negotiation. This common ground must unite Ukrainians, Americans and Europeans,” the official told reporters in a briefing.
“It should allow us, together, to make a negotiating offer, a solid, lasting peace offer that respects international law and Ukraine’s sovereign interests, an offer that American negotiators are willing to bring to the Russians.”
The official said there was no joint document yet, but all sides would carry on negotiations in the coming days through various calls and meetings. He did not say whether Washington had set a deadline.
Kyiv is under pressure from the White House to secure a quick peace but is pushing back on a US-backed plan proposed last month that many see as favorable to Moscow.
Britain, France and Germany, along with other European partners and Ukraine, have been working frantically in the last few weeks to refine the original US proposals that envisaged Kyiv giving up swathes of its territory to Moscow, abandoning its ambition to join NATO and accepting limits on the size of its armed forces.
The French official said the talks aimed at narrowing differences with the United States and centered on territory and potential security guarantees for Ukraine once there is a peace accord.
Those discussions include the possibility of a NATO Article-5 type clause involving Washington that would seek to reassure Kyiv in case it was once again attacked by Russia, the official said.
The Europeans have also faced pressure in recent weeks with some American proposals touching on elements that concern NATO and the European Union, including suggestions on fast-tracking Ukraine’s accession to the bloc.
“The European perspective of Ukraine is clear and it’s a realistic perspective,” the official said. “That is what we are committed to and it is up to the Europeans and the Ukrainians to agree on how to proceed.”
