Washington: US President Joe Biden, while addressing the nation on Thursday (local time), said that the US is in consultations with India over the Russia-Ukraine crisis. Replying to the questions whether India is with the US over the Ukraine crisis, Biden said, "We are in consultation with India today, we haven't resolved that completely."
The US President also unveiled a series of economic and strategic sanctions on Russia at his news conference declaring, "This is going to impose severe cost on the Russian economy, both immediately and over time."
In retaliation for the Russian invasion of Ukraine ordered by Russia's President Vladimir Putin early Thursday morning, Biden said the US and its allies would blunt Moscow's ability to participate in global trade by cutting off its ability to use dollars, euros, pounds and yen.
As Russian forces attacked key sites in Ukraine and its troops entered that country and engaged with Ukrainian forces, he said, "Putin is the aggressor. Putin chose this war. And now he and his country will bear the consequences."
Biden's sanctions taken in coordination with its allies, target Russia's banking sector, its hi-tech industries and defense.
India is facing a dilemma on how to deal with Russia, its long-standing friend and defense supplier, while its ties with the West are growing and it is getting more tied into the global economic situation.
New Delhi will be tested when a resolution against Russia is introduced in the UN Security Council by the US and its allies, and it will have to take a side. India abstained on a procedural vote on the agenda proposed by the West at a UN Security Council meeting in January on Ukraine.