India has abstained in three UN votes condemning Moscow's actions
Russia's invasion of Ukraine is a "very serious issue which is shaking the roots of international order", Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said on Saturday in New Delhi, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi standing next to him.
"No permission should be given by one side to change the status quo in world order by use of force," said Mr Kishida with PM Modi next to him at their joint press conference. He added that Tokyo will continue to support Ukraine.
The two leaders were meeting to strengthen security amid the Ukraine crisis and improve economic ties between the two nations.
"Both India and Japan want a peaceful solution to the current crisis and to ensure an open and free Indo Pacific," Mr Kishida said.
A separate Indian readout pointedly "underlined that the Quad must remain focused on its core objective of promoting peace, stability and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region".
Unlike fellow members of the Quad alliance - Japan, Australia and the United States - India has abstained in three UN votes condemning Moscow's actions, calling only for a halt to the violence.
Russia has praised India's "independent and balanced" position after New Delhi abstained on the UN resolution that deplored Moscow's "aggression" against Ukraine.
Russia continues to be India's biggest arms supplier. New Delhi and Moscow were close throughout the Cold War, a relationship that endures to this day.
Mr Kishida, accompanied by a high-level delegation, arrived in Delhi this afternoon for the 14th India-Japan Annual Summit.
Japan aims to invest $42 billion over the next five years in India, PM Modi said after the bilateral meeting with his counterpart. The two sides inked six agreements providing for the expansion of bilateral cooperation in a range of areas, besides firming a separate clean energy partnership.