Biden praises PM Modi for humanitarian support to Ukraine

Biden and Modi affirmed their continued support for a peaceful resolution of the conflict in accordance with international law, based on the United Nations Charter.

US President Joe Biden spoke on the phone with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and praised him for his “message of peace and continued humanitarian support” for Ukraine. The prime minister’s visit to Kyiv on August 23 was seen in many quarters as a diplomatic balancing act, with his trip to Russia last month sparking criticism from the Biden administration and angst in some Western capitals.

During his visit, Modi told Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky that Ukraine and Russia should sit down together to end the war and that India was ready to play an “active role” in restoring peace.

In a non-X message, Biden said, “I spoke with Prime Minister Modi to discuss his recent trip to Poland and Ukraine, and commended him for his message of peace and continued humanitarian support for Ukraine.” “We also affirmed our commitment to working together to contribute to peace and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region,” the US president said.

This was the first call between the two leaders after Modi’s trip to Russia, Poland and Ukraine and the recent developments in Bangladesh.

The White House, in a transcript of the call, said the two leaders discussed Modi’s recent trip to Poland and Ukraine, as well as the United Nations General Assembly meetings in September.

“The President congratulated the Prime Minister on his historic visits to Poland and Ukraine, the first by an Indian Prime Minister in decades, and for his message of peace and continued humanitarian support to Ukraine, including its energy sector,” he said.

Biden and Modi affirmed their continued support for a peaceful resolution of the conflict in accordance with international law, based on the United Nations Charter.

“The leaders also underscored their continued commitment to working together, including through regional groups like the Quad, to contribute to peace and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region,” the White House said.

The White House transcript of the call makes no reference to Bangladesh, which was mentioned in an “X” message from Prime Minister Modi.

In a message posted on the microblogging site, Prime Minister Modi said that during their telephone conversation with Biden, they had a detailed exchange of views on various regional and global issues, including the situation in Ukraine. “I reiterated India’s full support for the early return of peace and stability,” the prime minister said.

Further, Modi said that he and Biden also discussed the current situation in Bangladesh and stressed the need for early restoration of normalcy and ensuring the safety of minorities, especially Hindus.

Following the political developments in Bangladesh, India has been exerting continued pressure to ensure the safety of minorities, especially Hindus, in the country.