US President Joe Biden discussed India’s energy purchases from Russia with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday as Washington urges New Delhi to take a tougher stance on Russia over its war on Israel. Ukraine.

The leaders discussed a wide range of issues, including Covid-19, climate and the Indo-Pacific, in addition to the Russian invasion of Ukraine via video conference before a meeting of their senior defense officials and Foreign Affairs in Washington.

Biden did not make a specific request to India, but Washington reiterated its calls for India not to increase purchases of Russian oil, a senior administration official said.

“We do not believe that India should accelerate or increase Russian energy imports and the United States is ready to support India and to remain in conversation with India on the diversification of its imports,” said the manager.

In public remarks, Biden thanked India for its humanitarian support to Ukraine and said the countries “will continue our close consultations on how to deal with the destabilizing effects of this Russian war.”

Modi condemned the ongoing violence in Ukraine, but did not target Russia. He said he had already spoken to Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and urged them to hold direct talks.

India, a temporary member of the UN Security Council, has refused to join Western countries in condemning Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, repeatedly abstaining in UN votes on the issue and insisting on neutrality.

In recent weeks, US officials have held meetings with their Indian counterparts to dissuade New Delhi from increasing imports of Russian oil and to apply sanctions, although they have refrained from publicly urging India to choose a camp.

India and Russia have had a strategic relationship for decades and New Delhi sees good relations with Russia as important in managing its confrontation with China, with which it shares a disputed border.