Tokyo/New Delhi, May 24 (UNI) US President Joe Biden on Tuesday came down heavily upon Russia at the start of the Quad Leaders’ Summit saying the Russia’s Ukraine war is not mere a European but “a global issue and Russia is trying to extinguish a culture hitting schools and museums.” “This is more than just a European issue. It’s a global issue. The fact is that when you turn on the television and see what Russia’s doing now, it appears to me that Putin is trying to extinguish a culture. He’s not trying to hit military targets any more, he’s taking out every school, every culture, every natural history museum,” he said in his opening remarks at the Summit. Biden also termed Russia’s invasion on Ukraine “a dark hour in our shared history.”
“At the same we are navigating a dark hour in our shared history. Russia’s brutal and unprovoked war against Ukraine has triggered a humanitarian catastrophe. And innocent civilians are put into the streets and millions of refugees are internally displaced as well as exiled,” he said. Biden further said that “as long as Russia continues this war we are going to be partners and lead a global response.” The US President spoke about the importance of the Quad in responding to Covid-19, partnering on 5G supply chains and launching the Quad fellowship program. However, much of his remarks focused on the war in Ukraine. Biden said the participants were gathering at “this transformative moment in the world – we are at a transformative moment.” He thanked Japan Prime Minister Kishida for hosting the summit and said it was good to see Prime Minister Modi in person and thanked him “for your continued commitment to making sure democracies deliver.”
He also joked with PM Albanese saying “If you fall asleep while you’re here, that’s okay,” noting that he had just been elected. The US President has been joined by Secretary of State Antony Blinken, USTR Ambassador Katherine Tai, National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan and Ambassador Kurt Campbell. Japanese Prime Minister Kishida opened the meeting by welcoming the participants and thanking new Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese for coming to the meeting so soon after his election.
Kishida said it was important for the leaders to get together to make a “firm commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific” and spoke about some of the topics of the meeting, including climate change countermeasures, maritime issues and technology. Australian Prime Minister Albanese said it was an honor that one of his first act as prime minister was to attend the Quad meeting. “We are committed to the Quad,” he said, adding that Australia would be taking ambitious action on climate change, including a new target to reduce emissions by 43 percent by 2030. Prime Minister Narendra Modi then spoke congratulating Albanese on his victory and described his country’s work on Covid-19 and other issues and praised the work of the Quad. “This is ensuring peace, prosperity and stability in the Indo-Pacific region,” said Modi adding the group was a “force for good.”