- Jaishankar defended India-Russia ties at Munich Security Conference in New Delhi.
- Stressed Russia's historical support for India's security and territorial integrity.
- Confirmed India's active mediation efforts in Ukraine conflict resolution.
New Delhi: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, on Sunday, slammed the Western lobby for criticising close relations between India and Russia and affirmed, Moscow stood by New Delhi when its security and territorial integrity have come under threat. Jaishankar, while speaking at the Munich Security Conference in New Delhi, the minister asserted that the two countries have historically enjoyed good relations, and that experience continues to shape their ties. “People don’t forget good history or bad history,” he said.
"India and Russia have historically very good relations, particularly since the 1950s. That history is not forgotten." He said that the Soviet Union "stood by us in many ways when our security, when our territorial integrity was under threat".
Addressing the opening session of Munich Leaders Meeting 2026, in New Delhi. @MunSecConf #MLMNewDelhi https://t.co/I5M2893oG1
— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) October 4, 2026
Recalling Russia’s support particularly since the 1950s, when much of the world backed Pakistan’s military regime. The remarks mirrored to Soviet support for India during the 1971 war with Pakistan, when Washington sent a naval task force to the Bay of Bengal in support of Islamabad.
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"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," he said.
Jaishankar said the engagement has significantly widened now. "It is very much more today an economic relationship as well. There is a military component, there are nuclear components, there is space aspect, but there is a significant amount of trade and investment between the two countries and energy and resources as well," he said.
Jaishankar admits India's key role in mediating efforts between Russia and Ukraine
Further, he stressed that India has moved beyond advocacy and stepped up its efforts in recent months for the resolution of the Ukraine conflict by engaging in conversations with both Kyiv and Moscow. The statement marked a first public acknowledgement of New Delhi's role in ending the lingering war.
Jaishankar's comments at an event came days after Russian President Vladimir Putin said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has "good ideas" to find a mutually acceptable solution to the conflict. Ukraine Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said on Friday that Kyiv received separate proposals from India and three other nations for a possible ceasefire.
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Sharing some details of New Delhi's efforts, Jaishankar said it is focusing on ensuring the safety of shipping in the Black Sea as well as on grain exports and energy supplies.
For over four years, India has been consistently pushing for resolving the Ukraine conflict through dialogue and diplomacy.
"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," he said at the Munich Leaders'' Meeting in New Delhi.
"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."
(With inputs from agency)