External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar on Sunday praised the India-Russia ties and highlighted how the relations between the two countries have historically been amicable. Dr Jaishankar made the remarks during the Munich Security Conference in New Delhi.
The External Affairs Minister recalled how Russia (erstwhile Soviet Union) stood by India during the 1971 war with Pakistan, after the US sent a naval task force in the Bay of Bengal in support of Pakistan. “India and Russia have historically had very good relations, particularly since the 1950s. For us, Russia and the Soviet Union before that, is a country that stood by us in many ways when our security and territorial integrity were under threat. At a time when much of the world preferred backing a military regime next to us, Russia and our relations were very good,” Dr Jaishankar said, adding that India-Russia relations today are shaped in many ways by that legacy.
The External Affairs Minister explained how the ties between the two countries have expanded and evolved over time. He said that trade and investment are a significant part of the relationship as it exists today. “Today, the relationship has widened beyond that…so today it is much more of an economic relationship as well. There is a military component, there are nuclear components, and there are space issues. There is a significant amount of trade and investment between the two countries, and of course energy and resources as well,” he said.
#WATCH | Delhi: 62nd Munich Security Conference | On the future of India and Russia’s relationship, External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar says, "India and Russia have historically very good relations, particularly since the 1950s. That history is not forgotten… For us, and Soviet Union before that was a country that stood by us in many ways when our security, when our territorial integrity was under threat. At a time when much of the world preferred backing a military regime next to us, Russia was a country with which our relations were very good and we are shaped in many ways by that legacy. Today, the relationship has widened beyond that… It is very much more today an economic relationship as well. So there is a military component, there are nuclear component, there is space issues, but there is a significant amount of trade and investment between the two countries and energy and resources as well… India’s experience has been quite positive and consistently positive. Having said that, we are seeing today an unfortunate conflict. Our position on that conflict has been very clear, which is that we would like to see an end to this conflict. This will require dialogue and diplomacy. There has to be negotiations in this regard. We have been advocating it for many years, and in recent months we have got a little bit more involved beyond advocacy. We have conversations with both Russia and Ukraine in this regard. We are trying to be helpful, starting with the Black Sea safety of shipping issue, but going beyond that to cover some immediate concerns which both of them have on grain exports, energy exports, non-attack possibilities. Those are ongoing conversations right now."
— ANI (@ANI) October 4, 2026
Taking a veiled dig at the West, which sees India-Russia relations with a critical lens, the EAM said that a country judges a relationship through its own experience. He said that Europe cannot be expected to base its worldview on India’s experience and vice versa. “India’s experience (with Russia) has been positive and consistently positive,” he said. Jaishankar’s comments come in the context of the criticism and sanctions faced by India from Europe and the US for purchasing energy from Russia.
On the Russia-Ukraine war
Addressing the Russia-Ukraine war, Dr Jaishankar said that India’s position on the issue has been very clear. “…we are seeing today an unfortunate conflict. Our position on that conflict has been very clear, which is that we would like to see an end to this conflict,” the EAM said.
He added that putting an end to the conflict would require dialogue and diplomacy. He said that India has reached out to both Russia and Ukraine. ” We have conversations with both Russia and Ukraine in this regard. We are trying to be helpful, starting with the Black Sea safety of shipping issue, but going beyond that to cover some immediate concerns that both of them have on grain exports, energy exports, and non-attack possibilities. Those are ongoing conversations right now.” Dr. Jaishankar said.
