Biden calls India 'somewhat shaky' on punishing Russia for invasion of Ukraine

Washington DC, Mar 22: Getting restless after seeing that India is not toeing its line amid the Russia-Ukraine war, US President Joe Biden on Monday said that among its major allies, India was an exception in its response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Biden termed India’s stand "shaky".

 

Not mincing words, Biden said: "The Quad is, with the possible exception of India being somewhat shaky on some of this, but Japan has been extremely strong -- so has Australia -- in terms of dealing with Putin's aggression (sic)." Biden was addressing a meeting of US business leaders in Washington.

 

 

 

Unlike any other country, India’s priority has been the safety of its citizens and has focused on the evacuation of Indians from the war-affected areas in Ukraine. On every platform, India has repeatedly urged peace talks to resolve the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

 

 

 

India is the only member of the QUAD that has not condemned Russia’s invasion of its neighbouring Ukraine. All other member countries have joined the West in slapping significant sanctions on Moscow. At a virtual Quad conference earlier this month, leaders of Australia, Japan, and the US denounced Russia’s invasion. However, Prime Minister Narendra Modi reiterated “the need to return to a path of dialogue and diplomacy.”

 

Biden, meanwhile, hailed the US-led alliance, including the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (Nato), the European Union, and key Asian partners, for its united front against Russian President Vladimir Putin.This includes unprecedented sanctions aimed at crippling Russia's currency, international trade and access to high-tech goods.

 

Biden said there had been "a united front throughout Nato and in the Pacific” and that Putin was "counting on being able to split NATO". “However, Nato has never been stronger, more united, in its entire history than it is today," he said.

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