Quad leaders' virtual meet today; Ukraine crisis part of agenda

Amid the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, the Quad leaders will hold a meeting on Thursday to discuss the developments in the Indo-Pacific region. The four countries have an informal alliance called the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, or Quad, that positions itself as being committed to a free, open, and inclusive Indo-Pacific.

New Delhi:The Quad leaders will have a meeting on Thursday with an aim of discussing the developments in the Indo-Pacific region during the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war. The Ministry of External Affairs said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will participate along with US President Joe Biden, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida in a Quad Leaders' virtual meeting.

The four countries have an informal alliance called the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, or Quad, that positions itself as being committed to a free, open, and inclusive Indo-Pacific. "The leaders will have an opportunity to continue their dialogue after the September 2021 Summit in Washington D.C.," the ministry said. They will exchange views and assessments about the important developments in the Indo-Pacific.

The Quad leaders will also review the ongoing efforts to implement the Leaders' initiatives announced as part of the Quad's contemporary and positive agenda. The war between Russia and Ukraine has entered the eighth day after Russian President Vladimir Putin called for a military operation late last month.

In the meantime, in a resolution, backed by 141 of its 193 members, the United Nations General Assembly on Wednesday deplored in the strongest terms Russia's aggression in Ukraine, reaffirmed its commitment to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, and demanded that Russia immediately cease its use of force and "completely and unconditionally" withdraw all its troops.