Tawqeer Hussain
U.S. President Joe Biden said on Thursday Washington is still in unresolved “consultations” with India, when asked if India is in fully sync with the United States on a response to Russia’s attack on Ukraine.
“We are going to have consultations with India (on the Ukrainian crisis). We haven’t resolved that fully,” Biden told reporters during a White House news conference on the Ukrainian crisis.
Biden did not elaborate, but his short response fueled speculations to an awkward division between his administration and India, a country central to its efforts to push back against China’s growing power.
It is understood that India and the US are not on the same page on the Ukrainian crisis.
India has a historic and time-tested friendship with Russia. At the same time, its strategic partnership with the US has grown at an unprecedented pace over the last decade and half.
It is believed that the Biden administration at various levels, ranging from the White House, the State Department and its National Security Council have reached out to their Indian counterparts at multiple levels seeking full support from it on the Ukrainian crisis.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to Russian president Vladimir Putin last night and called for ‘cessation of violence’
“President Putin briefed Prime Minister about the recent developments regarding Ukraine. Prime Minister reiterated his long-standing conviction that the differences between Russia and the NATO group can only be resolved through honest and sincere dialogue. Prime Minister appealed for an immediate cessation of violence, and called for concerted efforts from all sides to return to the path of diplomatic negotiations and dialogue,” read the statement issued by the India’s external affairs Ministry.
