Staff Reporter
External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar today emphasised that Russia is a country that stood by India in many ways when India’s security and territorial integrity was under threat. Speaking at the 62nd Munich Security Conference in New Delhi, the External Affairs Minister stressed that at a time when much of the world preferred backing a military regime next to India, Russia was a country with which India’s relations were very good. He said India-Russia relations are shaped by that legacy in many ways. He said the bilateral relationship has widened beyond that today, and it is very much an economic relationship as well. Dr Jaishankar said there are military, nuclear and space components along with a significant amount of trade and investment between the two countries.
Dr Jaishankar termed the Russia-Ukraine conflict as unfortunate, saying that India’s position has been very clear that it would like to see an end to this conflict. He expressed New Delhi’s belief that this will require dialogue and diplomacy, and there has to be negotiations in this regard. He admitted that India has, in recent months, become a little bit more involved beyond advocacy. He added that India had conversations with both Russia and Ukraine in this regard, and is trying to be helpful, starting with the Black Sea safety of shipping issue.