G20 India meet: End this war of aggression, says US Secretary of State Blinken

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said he urged his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov to end the war in Ukraine during a brief, unscheduled meeting that was the first since Moscow's invasion.

Speaking to reporters, Blinken said,''I spoke briefly with Russian FM Lavrov today. I urged Russia to reverse its irresponsible decision and return to implementing the new START Treaty.''

''I told Russian FM that no matter what else is happening in the world & our relationship, the US will always be ready to engage and act on strategic arms control just as the US & Soviet Union did at the height of the Cold War,'' Blinken said late in the evening on March 2 following the conclusion of the G20 Foreign Ministers' Meeting.

The top US official asked Russia to end this war of aggression and engage in meaningful diplomacy that can produce just endurable peace.

''End this war of aggression, engage in menainful diplomacy that can produce just endurable peace. United States stands ready to support Ukraine through diplomacy,'' he added.

He said,''President Putin however has demonstrated zero interest in engaging while doubling down on his brutalisation of Ukraine. Independent of what Russia does we show it here in Delhi what we will do.''

"United States stands ready to support Ukraine through diplomacy. President Putin however has demonstrated zero interest in engaging while doubling down on his brutalisation of Ukraine. Independent of what Russia does we show it here in Delhi what we will do," he added.

''We are world's two biggest democracies, it's part of our national ethos. We have to work together that our democarcy can deliver on people's needs. We have to hold ourselves to core values including respect for human rights like freedom of speech, freedom of religion & freedom of assembly,'' US Secy of State Blinken on concerns of 'democratic backsiliding & human rights issues in India'.

''So we regularly engage with Indian counterparts to encourage Indian govt to uphold human rights justice & we look ourseleves to do same thing. This is the issue we discuss with foreign min S Jaishankar,'' he further said.

''What we've seen is outcome document which reflects shared agreements on many issues by all foreign ministers here today. On case of Russia's war against Ukraine, you've everyone in G20 signing on what was said in Bali. Broad consensus across G20 to work together,'' Blinken said.

The statement by G20 Chair-India today reaffirmed the declaration issued by G20 leaders last year in Bali which "strongly condemned" the war in Ukraine. Russia and China were the only two countries that made it clear that they won't sign on to that text: US Secy of State Blinken

Asked about funding restrictions on American NGOs operating in India, Blinken said this issue has also been taken up in the past. "We have had discussions about the importance of NGOs in civil society and that they be allowed to function effectively and freely here and in the US," he said.