Modi in rare criticism over Kyiv children's hospital attack

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met President Vladimir Putin in Moscow, seeking to deepen the relationship between the two nuclear powers at a time when NATO leaders gathered in Washington and Russia launched deadly missile attacks in Ukraine that hit a children's hospital.

Modi has avoided condemning Russia over Ukraine, but their partnership has become more complicated as Moscow has moved closer to Beijing. He did not attend last week's summit in Kazakhstan of a security organization founded by Moscow and Beijing.

Modi arrived shortly after Russian missiles struck across Ukraine, severely damaging the largest children's hospital in Kyiv and killing at least 42 people nationwide, including some children.

After their leaders met, India said its nationals who were "misled" into joining the Russian army would be discharged.

At least 35 Indians were trained in combat roles and deployed to Ukraine against their wishes, with some of them "grievously injured."

On Monday, Putin greeted Modi at his residence near Moscow, and the two shook hands and embraced. However, a day later, Modi alluded to the bloodshed while speaking about his meeting with Putin, which included over four hours of talks.

"Be it war, a struggle or a terrorist attack, every person who believes in humanity, when there is loss of life, he is pained," he said. "When innocent children are killed, then the heart pains."

The Kremlin was forced to deny that there were any disagreements between the two at the summit.

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE