External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has defended India’s longstanding relationship with Russia, saying New Delhi’s approach to Moscow is shaped by its own historical experience, including periods when Russia supported India’s security and territorial integrity.

Speaking at the Munich Security Conference in New Delhi, Jaishankar said India and Russia had maintained close ties over several decades. He argued that the history between countries influences how they assess one another.

“People don’t forget good history or bad history,” he said.

Jaishankar pointed to the support extended by Russia and the erstwhile Soviet Union from the 1950s onwards, when, according to him, much of the international community was backing Pakistan’s military regime. His remarks also evoked the Soviet Union’s role during the 1971 India-Pakistan war, when the United States deployed a naval task force to the Bay of Bengal.

Jaishankar says India’s experience with Moscow is distinct

Responding indirectly to Western concerns over India’s engagement with Russia, Jaishankar said countries assess international partnerships through their own experiences.

He noted that Europe may have a different perspective on Moscow, but India’s decisions are informed by its own history and interests.

“India’s experience has been positive and consistently positive,” he said.

The minister added that the relationship had broadened since the 1970s and 1980s. While defence and nuclear cooperation remain important, trade, energy and access to resources have become increasingly significant areas of engagement.

India maintains focus on energy security

Jaishankar’s comments come amid criticism from the United States and European countries over India’s continued purchase of Russian oil during the war in Ukraine.

The Ministry of External Affairs has rejected the criticism, describing it as unjustified and unreasonable. It has also said the United States had earlier encouraged India to procure Russian oil to help stabilise global energy markets.

On the same day, Jaishankar briefed a parliamentary consultative committee on efforts to strengthen trade, investment and energy cooperation with Russia.

According to people familiar with the meeting, he told the panel that India’s priority was to protect consumer interests by ensuring access to different sources of supply.

India reiterates call for dialogue to end Ukraine war

On the Ukraine conflict, Jaishankar restated India’s position that the war should end through dialogue and diplomacy.

He said New Delhi had engaged with both Moscow and Kyiv in recent months, with discussions covering issues such as shipping in the Black Sea, grain imports, energy exports and attacks on critical infrastructure.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has repeatedly urged an end to the conflict. During a 2022 meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Modi said the present era was not one of war.

Jaishankar also referred to a more recent message from Modi to Putin, in which the Prime Minister said that an endless war must give way to its conclusion.