India says Australia 'understands' Ukraine stance as war tests Quad

Modi, loath to condemn Russia, and Morrison agree to keep Indo-Pacific in focus

A poster in support of Russia, stuck by a right-wing group, is seen in New Delhi in early March. India is the only Quad member that has not condemned Moscow's invasion of Ukraine. © Reuters

KIRAN SHARMA, Nikkei staff writer

March 21, 2022 21:27 JST

NEW DELHI -- Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday held online talks with Australian counterpart Scott Morrison, with New Delhi reporting that Morrison expressed "understanding" of its stance on the war in Ukraine.

The talks between the pair, whose nations both belong to the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad), came two days after Modi hosted another Quad leader, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.