Team Blitz India
IN an acknowledgment of the enduring bond between India and Russia, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov lauded Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar for his deft stewardship of bilateral relations amidst the backdrop of the Ukraine conflict.
Lavrov’s remarks, delivered during the World Youth Forum in Sochi, Russia, underscored the historical bond between the two nations, particularly Moscow’s unwavering support for New Delhi during the Cold War era.
Lavrov reminisced about a moment at the United Nations when Jaishankar deftly responded to questions about India’s oil purchases from Russia. “My friend, Foreign Minister Subramanyam Jaishankar, was once at the UN, giving a speech. He was asked why they started buying so much oil from Russia. He advised them to mind their own business and reminded them at the same time how much oil the West had started buying and continued to buy oil from the Russian Federation. This is national dignity,” Lavrov said.
Reflecting on the historical ties between the two nations, Lavrov highlighted collaborative defence ventures, such as the joint production of sophisticated missiles like BrahMos. He emphasised the crucial role played by Russia in providing advanced military technology to India during times when such assistance was scarce from other quarters.
“In those years, when the West did not even think of transferring modern weapons to India, the Soviet Union, and later Russia, not only did so, but also set up joint production of high-tech missiles (like) BrahMos. That is why we remember (our) friendship, we never forget ourselves and we see that the Indian people have the same qualities,” Lavrov said.
For India, Russia remains an enduring and steadfast ally, with relations spanning several decades and forming a cornerstone of India’s foreign policy. Jaishankar, in a recent interview with a German daily, reaffirmed Russia’s consistent support for India’s interests.
