Jaishankar defends India’s ties with Russia amid Western criticism

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar has defended India’s continuing relationship with Russia, saying the partnership is shaped by a history in which Moscow supported New Delhi during periods of security and territorial pressure. Speaking at the Munich Security Conference in New Delhi, Jaishankar said India and Russia had historically enjoyed good relations.

He recalled Russian and Soviet support, particularly from the 1950s, when much of the world backed Pakistan’s military regime. His remarks referred to the wider history of India-Russia ties, including Soviet support during the 1971 war with Pakistan. Jaishankar said countries assess relationships through their own experience and that India’s experience with Russia had been positive and consistent.

He said the partnership had developed since the 1970s and 1980s, with trade, energy and resources now complementing military and nuclear cooperation. His comments came amid criticism from the United States and Europe of India’s continued engagement with Moscow, especially its purchases of Russian oil during the Ukraine war. India’s Ministry of External Affairs has described that criticism as unjustified and unreasonable.

Jaishankar said New Delhi’s approach was to maintain multiple sources of supply and to protect consumers’ interests. At a parliamentary consultative committee meeting, he briefed lawmakers on plans to expand trade, investment and energy cooperation with Russia. The supplied account said he also discussed India’s approach to energy security.

On Ukraine, Jaishankar repeated India’s support for ending the war through dialogue, diplomacy and negotiations. He said New Delhi had gone beyond general calls for peace and had held discussions with both Russia and Ukraine. Those discussions covered attacks on Black Sea shipping, grain imports, energy exports and strikes on critical infrastructure.

Jaishankar also recalled Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s messages to Russian President Vladimir Putin that the present era was not an era of war and that endless war should give way to an end to the conflict.