Russia backed India when world supported Pakistan: Jaishankar

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Sunday, 4 October 2026, that Russia stood by India when its territorial integrity was under threat and much of the world backed Pakistan's military regime. Speaking at the Munich Leaders Meeting in New Delhi, he said the two countries have had strong relations since the 1950s and that this history continues to shape the partnership. India's experience with Russia has been 'consistently positive,' he said.

Jaishankar defended India's oil purchases from Russia amid Western criticism, saying Washington had initially encouraged the purchases to stabilise global markets. He told a parliamentary consultative committee that India's priority is to safeguard consumer interests and maintain multiple sources of supply. The minister also said India has moved beyond advocating dialogue in the Ukraine conflict to holding conversations with both Russia and Ukraine, focusing on Black Sea shipping safety, grain and energy exports, and non-attack guarantees.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi told Russian President Vladimir Putin in a meeting on 31 August that 'endless war must now give way to end of war'. Ukraine foreign minister Andrii Sybiha said on 2 October that Kyiv had received ceasefire proposals from India and three other countries.