India, U.S hold broad 2+2 discussions, with Ukraine looming over talks

U.S. concerned about rising human rights abuses in India, Blinken says

India and the U.S. discussed a broad range of issues — from the COVID-19 response, supply chains, climate action to global and regional issues, but Russia’s war on Ukraine and its ramifications for the world appeared to have been the major theme for the day.  

“Obviously, a good part of my meeting with Secretary Blinken [U.S Secretary of State Antony Blinken]  in the morning went to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine that has many ramifications,” External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar said at the joint press conference of Defence and Foreign Ministers at the State Department on Monday afternoon.

Mr. Blinken said that it was important that all countries, “especially those with leverage, to press [ Russian President Vladimir] Putin to end the war”.  He called on democracies to “stand together” and speak “with one voice” to defend their shared values. Mr. Blinken said these values “ need to apply everywhere “ — a suggestion that they did not only apply to the Indo-Pacific, where India has faced an aggressive China on its borders, but to the Russia-Ukraine situation.

Both Foreign Ministers found themselves explaining the India-Russia relationship at various points during the interaction.

Mr. Jaishankar appeared irked at questions about India’s stance on Russia — twice thanking reporters sarcastically for “advice” they gave him as part of their questions.

On India’s purchases of Russian energy, Mr. Jaishankar said, “Looking at the figures, probably our total purchases for the month would be less than what Europe does in an afternoon. So you might want to think about that.”

He also said that the U.S. and India discussed ways of mitigating the negative impact of the Ukraine situation on food  and energy supplies _ a topic that had also been discussed during the virtual meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and U.S. President Joe Biden on Monday morning.  Mr. Jaishankar said that India had already started helping to supply quantities of wheat and sugar as well to help with global shortages.