Biden, Modi speak as US presses for hard line on Russia

WASHINGTON: President Joe Biden spoke on a video hyperlink with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday, stressing the nations’ shared values because the US has pushed India and others to take a more durable line towards Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Biden opened the dialog by emphasizing the protection partnership between the 2 nations and by saying the US and India are going to “proceed our shut session on easy methods to handle the destabilizing results of this Russian conflict.”
“The foundation of our partnership is a deep connection between our individuals, ties of household, of friendship and of shared values,” the US president stated.
India’s impartial stance within the conflict has raised issues in Washington and earned reward from Russian International Minister Sergey Lavrov, who lauded India this month for judging “the state of affairs in its entirety, not simply in a one-sided method.”
Modi known as the state of affairs in Ukraine “very worrying,” and he famous that an Indian scholar misplaced his life in the course of the conflict. He stated he has spoken with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, interesting to each of them for peace. India has condemned the killings uncovered within the metropolis of Bucha and has known as for an impartial investigation.
Nonetheless, India has kept away from some efforts to carry Russia accountable for its invasion. India abstained when the UN Common Meeting voted Thursday to droop Russia from its seat on the 47-member Human Rights Council over allegations that Russian troopers in Ukraine engaged in rights violations that the US and Ukraine have known as conflict crimes.
The vote was 93-24 with 58 abstentions.
Within the digital assembly, Biden deliberate to speak in regards to the penalties of Russia’s conflict towards Ukraine “and mitigating its destabilizing impression on world meals provide and commodity markets,” White Home press secretary Jen Psaki stated in an announcement Sunday.
They’ll talk about “strengthening the worldwide financial system, and upholding a free, open, rules-based worldwide order to bolster safety, democracy, and prosperity within the Indo-Pacific,” she stated.
India continues to buy Russian power provides, regardless of strain from Western nations to keep away from shopping for Russian oil and gasoline. The US has additionally thought of sanctions on India for its current buy of superior Russian air protection techniques.
Final month, the state-run Indian Oil Corp. purchased 3 million barrels of crude from Russia to safe its wants, resisting entreaties from the West to keep away from such purchases. India isn’t alone in shopping for Russian power, nevertheless. A number of European allies akin to Germany have continued to take action, regardless of public strain to finish these contracts.
Indian media studies stated Russia was providing a reduction on oil purchases of 20 p.c under world benchmark costs.
Iraq is India’s high provider, with a 27 p.c share. Saudi Arabia is second at round 17 p.c, adopted by the United Arab Emirates with 13 p.c and the US at 9 p.c, the Press Belief of India information company reported.
Biden and Modi final spoke in March.