The White House on Friday said that Russian President Vladimir Putin is isolating himself from the international community soon after Prime Minister Modi’s interaction with Putin, in which PM Modi told him that today is not a time of war. Asked to comment on Prime Minister Modi’s message to Putin on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in Samarkand, John Kirby, the National Security Council’s strategic communications coordinator at the White House, said: “I think what you heard in Uzbekistan the leaders of both China and India testify that Mr. Putin does not have a very sympathetic ear for what he is doing in Ukraine.
He (Putin) is only further isolating himself from the international community. We don’t believe now is the time to do business as usual with Russia in light of what they are doing in Ukraine,” Kirby said. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said what both India and China communicated reflected the concerns of the entire world. “What you’re hearing from China, from India, reflects the world’s concern about the impact of Russian aggression on Ukraine not just on the people of Ukraine, devastating as it is, but on countries and people across the planet. Blinken said.
In a bilateral meeting with Putin, Prime Minister Modi said, “I know that today is not an [era of] war. We have discussed with you several times over the phone that democracy, diplomacy and dialogue affect the whole world.” Putin said he was aware of Prime Minister Modi’s position and his concerns about the Ukraine conflict. “We want it all to end as soon as possible. But… the leadership of Ukraine… refused to engage in the negotiation process. They said they want to achieve their goals…on the battlefield militarily,” he said, calling India a dear friend.
The shift comes at a time when New Delhi continues to buy cheaper oil from Russia – a decision India has taken with people’s interest in mind. US media praised PM Modi for telling Putin that now is not the time for war. “The rare rebuke showed that the 69-year-old Russian strongman came under extraordinary pressure from all sides,” the Washington Post reported.
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