New Delhi, Feb 25 : Communist Party of India (Marxist) on Friday said peace in Ukraine is priority, and called for immediate cessation of armed hostilities. A statement by the polit bureau of CPI-M also said the Indian government should give priority to evacuating Indians from Ukraine. In a Tweet, CPI-M General Secretary Sitaram Yechury called for immediate cessation of armed hostilities and restoration of peace. He also called for “strict adherence to past agreements”, starting negotiations and for US to stop NATO expansion. He also said the Indian government must ensure safe evacuation of all Indians. The polit bureau in a statement said, “The Communist Party of India (Marxist) expresses its grave concern at the armed conflict between Russia and Ukraine. It is unfortunate that Russia took military action against Ukraine. There should be an immediate cessation of armed hostilities and the establishment of peace.” “After the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the United States led NATO has been steadily expanding eastward, contrary to the assurance given to Russia. The efforts to get Ukraine to join NATO would pose a direct threat to Russia’s security. Russia is also concerned about its security due to the threat posed by the presence of NATO forces and missiles at its borders in Eastern Europe. Hence the Russian demand for security guarantees, including Ukraine not joining NATO, is legitimate,” the CPI-M said. It said the refusal by the U.S. and NATO to meet the Russian security needs and the belligerence of the US in sending troops to the region have further escalated tensions. “For peace to be established, the genuine concerns of all the peoples, including of the Donbass region in eastern Ukraine, should be addressed. The process of negotiations should be restarted and the earlier agreements reached by both the parties should be adhered to,” it said. The CPI(M) urges the Indian government to immediately take steps to ensure the safety of the thousands of Indian citizens, mainly students stranded in Ukraine and undertake measures to evacuate all Indian citizens. AO SHK2013