Biden calls India 'shaky' in Russia confrontation

US President Joe Biden said Monday that India was an exception among Washington's allies with its "shaky" response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Biden lauded the US-led alliance, including NATO, the European Union and key Asian partners, for its united front against President Vladimir Putin.

This includes unprecedented sanctions aimed at crippling Russia's currency, international trade and access to high-tech goods. 

However, unlike fellow members of the Quad group -- Australia, Japan and the United States -- India continues to purchase Russian oil and has refused to join votes condemning Moscow at the United Nations.

Addressing a meeting of US business leaders in Washington, Biden said there had been "a united front throughout NATO and in the Pacific."

"The Quad is, with the possible exception of India being somewhat shaky on some of this, but Japan has been extremely strong -- so has Australia -- in terms of dealing with Putin's aggression."

Biden said that Putin was "counting on being able to split NATO" and instead, "NATO has never been stronger, more united, in its entire history than it is today."

Indian oil refiners have reportedly continued to purchase discounted Russian oil, even as the West seeks to isolate Moscow.

An Indian government official said last week that the world's third-biggest consumer of crude relies on imports for almost 85 percent of its needs, with Russia supplying a "marginal" less than one percent of this.

But "the jump in oil prices after the Ukraine conflict has now added to our challenges... India has to keep focusing on competitive energy sources," the official added.

New Delhi, which historically has had close ties with Moscow, called for an end to the violence in Ukraine but has stopped short of condemning Russia's invasion, abstaining in three votes at the United Nations. 

Biden said that it’s "clear" Russia is considering the use of chemical and biological weapons in Ukraine and warned of a "severe" Western response if it chose to do so. "His back is against the wall," said Biden of Russian President Vladimir Putin, noting that Russia has recently accused the United States of holding chemical and biological weapons in Europe.

"Simply not true. I guarantee you," he told a gathering of US business leaders in Washington. "They are also suggesting that Ukraine has biological and chemical weapons in Ukraine. That's a clear sign he's considering using both of those," he said.

His warning echoed statements made by his administration earlier this month as well as other Western nations, after Russian officials accused Ukraine of seeking to hide an alleged US-backed chemical weapons program.

"Now that Russia has made these false claims... we should all be on the lookout for Russia to possibly use chemical or biological weapons in Ukraine, or to create a false flag operation using them," tweeted White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki.

Biden on Monday also reiterated that such an action would prompt a "severe" but so far undefined response from Western allies.

Putin "knows there'll be severe consequences because of the united NATO front," he said, without specifying what actions the alliance would take.

At the same event, Biden noted that he had warned Putin of a US response if Russia launched cyber attacks against US critical infrastructure.

"We had a long conversation about if he uses it, what will be the consequence," said Biden, referring to a summit with the Russian leader last year in Geneva.

Earlier in the day, Biden issued a statement warning the US business community of intelligence pointing to a growing Russian cyber threat and urging companies to "immediately" prepare defenses.

"If you have not already done so, I urge our private sector partners to harden your cyber defenses immediately," he said, citing "evolving intelligence that the Russian government is exploring options for potential cyberattacks" including in response to Western sanctions over Moscow's invasion of Ukraine.

"It’s part of Russia’s playbook," he said.

His statement added that the US government would "continue to use every tool to deter, disrupt, and if necessary, respond to cyberattacks against critical infrastructure."

However, he underlined that most critical infrastructure in the country is owned and operated by private entities, which cannot be compelled to take specific cyber security measures.

Latest developments
Here are the latest developments in the war in Ukraine:

- Zelensky ready for talks -
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says he is ready for talks with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin "in any format" to end the conflict.

Zelensky indicates the status of Russian-occupied Crimea and breakaway Russian-backed statelets in Donbas are up for discussion, adding that any peace deal will be put to a referendum in Ukraine.

- Russia steps up air operations -
The Pentagon says Russia is boosting air and sea military operations in Ukraine, flying more than 300 missions in the past 24 hours.

- Eight dead in mall bombing -
At least eight people are killed in the bombing of a shopping centre in northwest Kyiv. The 10-storey building is completely destroyed in the blast. Russia claims the mall was used to store rocket systems.

- Kyiv curfew -
Kyiv mayor Vitali Klitschko announces a new curfew for the capital from 8:00 pm (1800 GMT) until Wednesday morning. 

- Holocaust survivor killed -
Ninety-six-year-old Holocaust survivor Boris Romantschenko is killed by Russian shelling of Kharkiv. Romantschenko had survived detention in Buchenwald, Mittelbau-Dora and Bergen-Belsen.

- Kherson protests -
Ukraine's leaders accuse Russian forces of firing on unarmed protesters in the occupied southern city of Kherson, with videos appearing to show residents fleeing flash-bang grenades and sustained gunfire into the air.

- Red Cross mission -
The head of the international Red Cross Peter Maurer tells AFP he will travel to Moscow this week for talks about the conduct of the war in Ukraine and efforts to secure visits with detainees. 

- Russian toll -
Kremlin-allied tabloid Komsomolskaya Pravda reports 9,861 Russian troops have been killed and 16,153 injured in the nearly month-old war, 20 times the official tally. The figures were quickly removed.

- Nearly 3.5 million flee -
Nearly 3.5 million Ukrainians have now fled the country following Russia's invasion, the United Nations says, of 10 million who have been displaced from their homes.

- Biden warning to Russia -
US President Joe Biden warns Russia will pay a "severe price" if it uses chemical weapons in Ukraine.

- Warning on US-Russia ties -
Russia summons the US ambassador to Moscow to protest at Biden's branding of counterpart Vladimir Putin as a "war criminal", saying relations are "on the verge of rupture."

- End to Russia-Japan talks -
Russia abandons long-running talks on a World War II peace treaty with Japan over Tokyo's criticism of the Ukraine invasion. Prime Minister Fumio Kishida calls the move "unjustified" and "absolutely unacceptable."

- Facebook, Instagram ban -
A Russian court bans Facebook and Instagram as "extremist", part of the Kremlin's sweeping efforts to censor news about the war in Ukraine.