Narendra Modi’s virtual talks with Joe Biden-Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Joe Biden had a “candid exchange of views” in a virtual meeting on Monday on Russia’s conflict in Ukraine, after which the US stated “India would make its own judgments” on the issue.
In the discussion, PM Modi stated that he had proposed direct talks between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and that the situation in Ukraine was “very worrying.”
Speaking of India’s assistance to Ukraine in the form of medicines and humanitarian supplies, PM Modi reminded the US President of New Delhi’s strong condemnation of Russia’s aggression against civilians in Ukraine’s Bucha and expressed optimism that “ongoing discussions between Russia and Ukraine will pave the path for peace.”
There was a clear divide between the two parties on the Russia-Ukraine problem in the run-up to the negotiations. “Close conversations on the effects of Russia’s horrific campaign against Ukraine,” according to the White House’s lengthy preface. The engagement “would assess existing bilateral cooperation and exchange perspectives on recent events in South Asia, the Indo-Pacific region, and global topics of mutual concern,” according to the Indian preview, which avoided specific mention of the war while setting a larger plan. Both sides had gotten their way without significantly reducing their differences.
“We know that Russia is concerned, and we also know that India is concerned about Russia-China ties. Of course, India is in the midst of a critical situation at the Line of Actual Control. And when India observes China’s and Russia’s close ties, it’ll undoubtedly influence their thinking, “An official from the White House informed the press.
President Biden opened his discussion with Prime Minister Modi by complimenting the two nations’ “deep connection” and expressing his desire to maintain their “close consultation” on the conflict.
After the virtual summit, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken told reporters, followed by an in-person gathering of ministers, that “all nations, especially those with influence, push Putin to end the conflict.”
“It’s also critical that democracies stand united and speak with one voice to preserve the ideals that we share,” Mr Blinken said after the discussions, which were regarded as “warm and fruitful” by one US official.
“Probably our entire purchases for the month would be less than what Europe buys in an afternoon,” Foreign Minister S Jaishankar said when questioned about Biden’s appeal for India to decrease energy imports from Russia.
The United States has urged foreign leaders to adopt tough stances against Russia. According to the White House, there was no “specific question and concrete answer” on energy imports.
Monday’s virtual talks featured US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, Indian Minister of External Affairs Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, and Indian Minister of Defence Rajnath Singh.
The meeting took place as New Delhi tries to find a balance between its ties with Moscow and the West, which has imposed a series of sanctions on Russia as a result of the Ukraine conflict and urged countries to move away from Russian energy supplies as a means of putting pressure on President Vladimir Putin.
Published By: Simran Mulani
Edit By: Khushi Thakur
