US will continue consultation with India to stabilise effects of Russia-Ukraine war: Biden to Modi

American President Joe Biden today held a virtual meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and said the US and India would continue their close consultation on how to manage and stabilise the effects of the Russia-Ukraine war.

Modi, in his turn, expressed concern that the situation in Ukraine was worrying and said he had spoken to presidents of both Ukraine and Russia over the telephone several times and also suggested Vladimir Putin hold direct talks with Volodymir Zelensky, reports our New Delhi correspondent.

Modi told Biden, "Our talks today are taking place at a time when the situation in Ukraine remains very worrying."

India, he added, hoped that the ongoing talks between Russia and Ukraine will pave way for peace.

Biden said India and the US share a strong and growing major defence partnership and welcomed India's "humanitarian support" towards the people of war-ravaged Ukraine.

Modi reciprocated by saying that India and the US, as the world's two largest and oldest democracies, are "natural partners".

The Indian PM also termed the recent reports of the killing of civilians in Bucha, Ukraine, as "very worrying". "We immediately condemned it and demanded a fair investigation," said Modi.

The Biden-Modi virtual meeting came ahead of talks between the foreign and defence ministers of India and the US in Washington later today.