PM Modi, US President Biden to have 'straightforward' talks on Ukraine on sidelines of Quad summit

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Joe Biden will hold bilateral talks on the sidelines of the Quad summit in Tokyo on May 24.

During their meeting, the two leaders are expected to hold a "constructive and straightforward dialogue", which will also touch upon the ongoing situation in Ukraine.

Notably, the meeting comes on the day when the February 24 Russian invasion of Ukraine will enter its fourth month.




Ahead of his two-day visit to Japan, PM Modi said that he will hold a bilateral meeting with President Biden, where they will discuss further consolidation of the multi-faceted bilateral relations between the two nations.

"We will also continue our dialogue on regional developments and contemporary global issues," the Prime Minister added.



While speaking about the US President's bilateral meeting with PM Modi in Japan, US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said, "It will be a continuation of the conversation they have already had on how we see the picture in Ukraine. They will talk all of that through and this will be similarly constructive and straightforward."

PM Modi has been a strong proponent of dialogue between Russia and Ukraine for a peaceful resolution of the conflict. However, India has so far avoided taking a hard stand on the issue and has abstained from voting on several resolutions on the conflict at the United Nations.

President Biden had earlier called out India for its "somewhat shaky" stand on Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Both Australia and Japan, who make up the Quad with India and US, have criticised Russia’s aggression against Ukraine.

However, despite India sticking to its position in the face of growing pressure from US, the bilateral ties between the two democracies have remained largely unaffected.

Second in-person summit

PM Modi will visit Tokyo for two days at the invitation of his Japanese counterpart Fumio Kishida. In March 2022, PM Modi hosted Kishida for the 14th India-Japan Annual Summit.

Various Quad initiatives, developments in the Indo-Pacific region and global issues of mutual interest will be discussed during the upcoming Quad summit in Tokyo, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said before his visit.

In Japan, PM Modi will also participate in the second in-person Quad Leaders' Summit, which will provide an opportunity for the leaders of the four Quad countries to review the progress of initiatives taken by the grouping.

Last year, the leaders of the Quad countries had taken part in the first in-person summit of the four-nation group in US.

Quad is a strategic alliance of the four countries which aims to keep an eye on China's expansionist behaviour in the Indo-Pacific.

China has quite often criticised the security alliance as it sees it as a mechanism to contain its global rise. The country has accused the group, particularly US, of being dedicated to undermining its interests.

(With inputs from agencies)