Biden and Modi sign joint statement on Ukraine, call for respect for sovereignty, territorial integrity

The Voice of America reported the information.

At the welcoming ceremony, Biden said that the challenges of the world require India and the US to work together.

"The challenges and opportunities facing the world in this century require that India and the United States work and lead together, and we are," Biden said during the ceremony.

The US is seeking to enlist India's support amid rising tensions with China. The US is also trying to engage India in supporting Ukraine in its war against Russia.

"We will actively engage India on issues associated with Russia and Ukraine," the US government said on Thursday.

India, according to the administration, is diversifying its arms purchases to reduce its dependence on Russia.

This is facilitated not only by the US, but also by France, the UK, Israel and other countries, supporting efforts to ensure India's defense capabilities in general, the official said.

According to the statement issued by the administration, the significant interaction between Prime Minister Modi and President Zelenskyy indicates India's willingness to assume an appropriate role when diplomatic actions are required.

According to the BBC, the White House is seeking to convince India to become a US ally and support Ukraine against Russian aggression.

India refuses to join Western sanctions and has become a major importer of crude oil from Russia since the beginning of the war. It buys oil at a significant discount, and exports the oil products it produces at market prices, particularly to Western countries. One of the largest exporters is a businessman close to Modi.

During his visit, Modi promised to work to achieve peace in Ukraine without using the word "war."

"From the very beginning of the events in Ukraine, India has laid emphasis on the resolution of the dispute through dialogue and diplomacy. We are completely ready to contribute in any way we can to restore peace," Modi told reporters along with President Joe Biden.

Biden said he hopes to strengthen ties between New Delhi and Washington, which he said should be a defining feature of international relations in the 21st century. Washington also wants India to be a counterweight to China's global influence.

Later, the BBC reported that Modi signed a joint statement with Biden in Washington supporting Ukraine's territorial integrity.

Despite India's neutral position, the statement said that both countries call for "international law, principles of the UN charter, and territorial integrity and sovereignty."

• On May 20, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the margins of the G7 Summit in Japan. The President informed Modi in detail about the Ukrainian peace formula and invited India to join the initiative.

• In August, a summit of the BRICS organization, which includes Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, is to be held; those states that have not condemned Russia's actions in Ukraine.

• On June 22, media reported that senior US officials Jake Sullivan and Victoria Nuland will fly to Denmark this weekend at the request of the Ukrainian government to meet with representatives of several key countries, including Brazil, India and South Africa, which have not condemned Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

• Since the start of Russia's large-scale aggression against Ukraine and the imposition of sanctions, India has become one of the key buyers of Russian energy, increasing its oil imports from Russia 10 times, and plans to reach 30% of its imports in 2023-2024.