India ‘somewhat shaky’ on condemning Russian invasion of Ukraine: Biden
"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.", Mr. Biden stated.
Washington: US President Joe Biden said that India has a shaky response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine unlike the firm decision of Western alliances.
US President has lauded the US-led alliance, NATO, the European Union and other key Asian partners condemning the Russian attack on Ukraine.
US and Western sanctions against Russia aim at crippling Russia’s currency, international trade and access to high-tech goods.
However, unlike fellow members of the Quad group (Australia, Japan and US) India continues to purchase Russian oil and has abstained from voting three times in UN Assembly against the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
"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.", Mr. Biden stated.
While addressing a meeting of US business leaders in Washington, Biden said there had been a united front throughout NATO and in the pacific.
Biden said that Putin was "counting on being able to split NATO" and instead, "NATO has never been stronger, more united, in its entire history than it is today.", he said.
Russia has offered India oil at cheaper rates. Thus Indian oil refiners have reportedly continued to purchase discounted Russian oil, despite the West imposed severe sanctions against Russia and isolating it at the international level.
An Indian government official said last week that the world's third-biggest consumer of crude relies on imports for almost 85 percent of its needs, with Russia supplying a "marginal" less than one percent of this.
But "the jump in oil prices after the Ukraine conflict has now added to our challenges... India has to keep focusing on competitive energy sources," the official added.
In fact, India has an old ally of Russia, its friendship with Russia existing since the Nehru era. However, India has requested its friend to end to the violence in Ukraine but it has abstained from UN Assembly voting to condemn the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
