“There was a clear consensus in that meeting that this must be resolved diplomatically — peacefully. One of the Quad’s main tenets is to strengthen the international order’s laws “he stated
“And it is a rules-based order that applies equally in the Indo-Pacific, Europe, and the rest of the world. We know that our Indian allies are dedicated to the international rules-based order. In that order, there are a variety of tenets. The fact that borders cannot be redrawn by force is one of them “In answer to a query, Price stated.
“Small countries cannot be bullied by large countries. That only the people of a given country have the power to decide on its foreign policy, partnerships, alliances, and associations. These are ideas that hold true in both the Indo-Pacific and Europe “In an apparent reference to China’s aggressive behaviour toward its neighbours, especially India, he remarked.
Price said Secretary of State Tony Blinken and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar talked about defence topics, but he wouldn’t say whether they talked about possible sanctions under the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA).
“Our broad defence connection was discussed,” Price added, “but I wouldn’t want to define it beyond that.”
Secretary of State Tony Blinken stated earlier in the day that the US is doing everything it can to find a peaceful end to the crisis that Moscow has “needlessly caused.”
“However, as we’ve already stated, those measures will only be effective if the Russian Federation is willing to de-escalate,” Price told reporters.
“We are concerned that this may happen at any time, and the world should be prepared. It might include misleading assertions about Ukrainian military activity in the Donbass, false claims about US or NATO activities on land, sea, or air, and even false claims about Ukrainian or NATO incursions into Russian territory “he stated
“We are especially concerned about President (Vladimir) Putin and other Russian authorities’ repeated references to “genocide” in Donbas. None of these charges have any substance in fact.
“This hasn’t stopped the Russians from spreading fake information, such as allegations of unmarked mass graves of civilians reportedly killed by Ukrainian soldiers and assertions that the US or Ukraine is developing biological or chemical weapons.
“This hasn’t stopped the Russians from making false claims,” he said, citing reports of unmarked mass graves of civilians allegedly killed by Ukrainian armed forces as well as claims that the US or Ukraine is developing biological or chemical weapons, the latter for use in Russian-controlled territory.
The Kremlin has repeatedly rejected any plans to attack Ukraine, but has insisted that NATO never admit Ukraine or other ex-Soviet countries as members, and that troop deployments in former Soviet bloc countries be scaled back.
