Biden speaks with Modi about Indian premier’s visit to Ukraine
The Indian prime minister said that he spoke to the president about the war in Ukraine and concerns about the safety of Hindus in Bangladesh.
President Joe Biden spoke with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday, days after the most prominent leader from a nation that maintains a neutral position on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine visited Kyiv.
Mr Modi, in a post on X, said that he spoke to Mr Biden about “India’s full support for early return of peace and stability” in Ukraine. He said the leaders also discussed India’s concern about the safety of Hindus and other religious minorities in neighbouring Bangladesh after this month’s ouster of the country’s long-serving prime minister.
The White House said it welcomed Modi’s engagement with Ukraine.
White House national security spokesman John Kirby told reporters: “We welcome any other country that wants to help President (Volodymyr) Zelensky work towards this just peace, and any country that’s willing to come at that discussion by starting with President Zelensky’s perspective, by hearing him out.”
Mr Zelensky and Mr Modi discussed at length Ukraine’s peace formula during their meeting last week, which prioritises territorial integrity and the withdrawal of Russian troops, according to the Indian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
“We say it very loudly and clearly that we support the respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity,” Mr Modi said during the meeting. “It’s our highest priority.”
The Kyiv visit came after Mr Modi met with Vladimir Putin in Moscow last month.
Mr Zelensky had criticised Mr Modi for the visit with Mr Putin, which came on the same day Russian missiles struck across Ukraine, killing scores of people.
India, which has a long-running relationship with Moscow, has largely avoided weighing in on the Russian invasion.
The country began building a strong relationship with the then-Soviet Union in the mid-1950s during the Cold War, then strengthened those ties over conflicts with neighbouring Pakistan.
The Soviet Union helped mediate a ceasefire between India and Pakistan to end the 1965 war over control of the disputed Himalayan territory of Kashmir. Then, during India’s war with Pakistan in December 1971, the Soviet Union used its veto power to support India at the United Nations, while the US ordered a task force into the Bay of Bengal in support of Pakistan.
Mr Modi said he also discussed the situation in Bangladesh, where Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina resigned and fled to India this month.
Her ouster was triggered by student-led protests against a quota system for government jobs. After clashes between protesters and government forces that led to hundreds of deaths, the movement grew into a broader rebellion against the leader and her government.
Dozens of attacks against Hindus and other religious minorities in Bangladesh have been reported since Ms Hassina’s ouster.
Mr Modi said during the call with Mr Biden that he underscored “the need for early restoration of normalcy, and ensuring the safety and security of minorities, especially Hindus, in Bangladesh”.
Mr Biden took part in the call from Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, where he is on holiday with family.
