Biden’s ‘unresolved consultations’ talk signals displeasure with India

The USA may have expressed its displeasure on the Indian position on the Ukraine crisis with President Joe Biden saying that Washington’s talks with India on the issue is yet to be resolved.

U.S. President Joe Biden said on Thursday Washington is in still unresolved "consultations" with India, when asked if Washington and Delhi were fully in sync on a response to Russia's attack on Ukraine ahead of an expected U.N. Security Council.

Biden did not elaborate, but his response to a question at a briefing at which he announced tough new sanctions against Russia over Ukraine may have indicated differences between the two sides which has developed strong ties not just in matters of trade but also building a partnership to balance China. India is also analysing any impact of sanctions on its purchases from Russia.

Biden said Putin would be a pariah on the international stage as a result of his attack on Ukraine and “any nation that countenances Russia's naked aggression against Ukraine will be stained by association.”

Earlier, US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken spoke with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar regarding Russia’s attack on Ukraine. In a tweet, Jaishankar said that the two sides discussed the ongoing developments in Ukraine and their implications.

Jaishankar also said he had spoken to his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov and “underlined that dialogue and diplomacy are the best way forward”. ET has learnt that Lavrov also briefed Jaishankar on Pakistan PM’s visit to Moscow that did not yield any tangible results.

Except India, all three Quad member states have pulled up Russia for its actions in Ukraine. Earlier this month during his Melbourne visit for Quad meet and bilateral trip Jaishankar had made known India’s stand when he said Ukraine is not part of Indo-Pacific geography.