Russia’s invasion of Ukraine was discussed by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Australian counterpart Scott Morrison on Sunday in a virtual summit. The two agreed “that the situation in Ukraine should not impact on the Indo-pacific”, India’s Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla said.

The unfolding humanitarian situation in Ukraine was also brought up in the conversation on Monday and both leaders reportedly share similar thoughts.

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Both Prime Minister Modi and Australia’s Morrison emphasised need for cessation of hostilities and violence in Ukraine, Foreign Secretary Shringla said.

Indian Foreign Secretary HV Shringla said, “Both leaders discussed serious concerns about the ongoing conflict and humanitarian situation in Ukraine & there was equal emphasis on the fact that international orders stand on the United Nations Charter on the rule of law and respect for the territorial integrity & sovereignty of states”, news agency ANI reported.

Hours before the virtual summit commenced, a top Australian diplomat said that the Quad alliance had accepted India’s stance on the Russia-Ukraine situation. 

“We know PM Modi has called for an end to the conflict and nobody should be unhappy with that”, Australia’s High Commissioner Barry O’Farrell said.

India-Australia ties are based on “mutual understanding and trust, a commitment to democracy, and a shared vision of an open, inclusive, resilient and prosperous Indo-Pacific“, Morrison had said earlier, according to reports from Times of India.

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While addressing the issues in Indo-Pacific, Scott Morrison spoke about the South China Sea, which is considered to be a pressure point for multiple South-East Asian countries, Japan, United States and Australia.

“PM Morrison also gave a fairly detailed perspective of how he saw China and its actions in the region and he spoke in particular about the South China Sea”, the Indian diplomat said after the talks concluded.