At the virtual meeting with India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi, US President Joe Biden welcomed India’s humanitarian support for the people of Ukraine. “I want to welcome India’s humanitarian support for the people of Ukraine, who are suffering a horrific assault, including a tragic shelling in a train station last week that killed dozens of innocent children and women and civilians attempting to flee the violence,” Biden said.
Modi reiterated that India condemns the killing of the civilians in Bucha and demands an impartial probe into the matter. “Recent news of the killing of innocent citizens in Bucha city was a matter of concern. We immediately condemned it and also demanded an impartial probe. We hope that through the talks between Russia and Ukraine, a path for peace would come out.”
“I have spoken with Presidents of both Ukraine and Russia over the telephone, several times. I not only appealed to them for peace but also suggested President Putin hold direct talks with the Ukrainian President,” he said. Modi has had phone conversations with Russian President Vladimir Putin on February 24, March 2 and March 7. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov was also in New Delhi recently. He has also spoken to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy twice.
President Biden last spoke to Modi along with other Quad leaders during a virtual meeting in March. Unlike the other countries in the group, India has not condemned Russia aggression in Ukraine. The virtual meeting came in the midst of concerns in Washington over India’s position on Ukraine and it decision to procure discounted Russian oil.
Significantly Biden also referred to the strong and growing defense partnership between India and the US. In Washington, India’s reluctance to condemn Russia is understood to also relate to the defense dependence on the latter. He said at the root of the bilateral partnership is a deep connection between “our people, ties of the family of friendship and of shared values”. The two leaders will meet on May 24 in Japan at the next Quad meeting.
Jaishankar meets Blinken
India's external affairs minister S Jaishankar tweeted pictures of himself in Washington with Secretary of State Tony Blinken. “Began the day with a breakfast meeting,” with Blinken, he reported, adding, “wide ranging exchange of views on the global situation, regional hotspots and bilateral cooperation. Took place with the comfort and openness of true strategic partners.” He also tweeted out an image of himself meeting President Joe Biden who had a virtual meeting with India’s PM Narendra Modi.
India's defense minister Rajnath Singh and US Secretary of Defense Lloyd J Austin III held delegation-level talks at the Pentagon, ahead of India-US 2+2 ministerial dialogue. Rajnath, who is on a five-day US visit, arrived at the Pentagon for a bilateral meeting with Austin. Austin welcomed Rajnath Singh in an enhanced honor cordon ceremony at the Pentagon.
The enhanced honor is reserved for valued guests and visitors. During normal honor cordon, visitors are greeted at the Pentagon stairs and welcomed with handshakes, before proceeding inside the building. During the enhanced honour cordon, national anthems are played.
