According to NDTV, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will speak with Russian President Vladimir Putin tonight on the Ukraine crisis. Russian military actions against Ukraine began this morning, prompting the former Soviet republic to request India's assistance. After months of tension over Ukraine's proximity to NATO, Russia launched military actions against Ukraine this morning. Mr Putin previously asserted that Ukraine is a Western puppet and that it was never a real state in the first place. By the evening, Russia claimed to have destroyed more than 70 military targets in Ukraine, including 11 airfields and 18 S-300 and Buk-M1 anti-aircraft missile radar units. According to an AFP assessment based on multiple Ukrainian state sources, at least 68 persons were killed, including military and civilians. Igor Polikha, Ukraine's envoy, requested India's help earlier today, stating, "India is a very influential global player… We are asking for a strong voice of India". Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he claimed, "is one of the most powerful, respected world leaders" and the "status of Modi-ji makes me hopeful that with Modi ji's strong voice, Putin will think". The Prime Minister convened a Cabinet Committee on Security meeting earlier this evening to review the economic impact of the crisis and strategies to limit the spillover effect of increased crude oil prices. The meeting included Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Defense Minister Rajnath Singh, External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal, and India's Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas Hardeep Singh Puri, among others. Today's market tremors have been caused by Russian military operations in Ukraine. In accordance with the worldwide catastrophe, the 30-share benchmark Sensex fell almost 2,700 points.

Key Points

• According to NDTV, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will speak with Russian President Vladimir Putin tonight on the Ukraine crisis. Russian military actions against Ukraine began this morning, prompting the former Soviet republic to request India's assistance.

• Igor Polikha, Ukraine's envoy, requested India's help earlier today, stating, "India is a very influential global player… We are asking for a strong voice of India". Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he claimed, "is one of the most powerful, respected world leaders" and the "status of Modi-ji makes me hopeful that with Modi ji's strong voice, Putin will think".

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