India is looking for “partners” and not “preachers”, Minister of Outside (EAM) S. Jaishankar on Sunday (May 4, 2025), in a veiled Europe in connection with conflict in Ukraine, explaining the nuances of “Russian realism” and why the relationship between two parties was “important adaptation”.
In an interactive session, Mr. Jaishankar, who plunged into wider geopolitical shocks, said that Europe “entered a certain zone of reality control” and must show some sensitivity and reciprocity of interest for deeper ties with India.
India has always advocated “Russian realism” and between India and Russia as a provider of resources and consumer existed “important fit” and “complementarity”, EAM said in notes adopting the persistent efforts of US President Donald Trump to conclude an agreement between Moscow and Kyiv.
During the conflict of Russia-Ukraine, the new Delhi remained involved in Moscow and strengthened the contract of Russian oil, which caused criticism from the West. But India claimed that her ties with Russia were driven by a national interest.
Eam also criticized earlier attempts by the West to find a solution to the conflict of Russia-Ukraine without involvement of Russia and stated that it “challenges the foundations of realism”.
“Like I am a defender of Russian realism, I am also a supporter of American realism,” he said at the “Arctic Circle India” forum.
“I think that the best way to involve today’s America is also to find the reciprocity of interests, rather than introducing ideological differences in advance and then allowing him to conceal the possibilities of cooperation,” said Jaishankar.
EAM has been widely immersed in the global consequences of the Arctic development and how the changing world order affects the region.
As for the conflict of Russia-Ukraine, Mr. Jaishankar said that India has always been “very careful not to prescribe a solution”.
“We did not say one or the other to do it or do it. And it is important to remember, because it is a courtesy that is not always awarded. So we get advice about what we should do,” he said in the next kick in the West.
Jaishankar answered a question about the expectations of India from Europe and said he had to overcome the sermon and start acting on the basis of the framework of reciprocity.
“When we look at the world, we are looking for partners; we are not looking for preachers, especially preachers who do not practices at home and preach abroad,” he said.
“I think some of Europe are still fighting with this problem. Some of them have changed,” he added.
Eam said Europe “entered a certain zone of reality control”. “Now, whether they are able to get to it or not, it’s something we’ll have to see,” he added.
“But from our point of view, if we are to develop partnership, there must be some understanding, there must be some sensitivity, there must be a reciprocity of interest, and there must be a realization of how the world works,” he said.
“And I think these are all the work at different levels with different parts of Europe. Some have moved further, some less,” said Jaishankar.
In India-Rusk’s ties, he said that there was such an “important adaptation and additional” as “resource and consumer provider” between the two countries.
“As far as Russia is concerned, we have always believed that there is a Russian realism that we defended,” Eam said.
“When passions were very high (V) 2022, 2023 … If one looks back at this period, it turned out that the kind of predictions and scenarios that have been submitted
The Minister criticized the West’s thinking in the past that the solution of conflict in Ukraine could appear without Russia’s involvement.
“The idea of getting a solution from Russia without inviting Russia has questioned the foundations of realism. We have always felt that Russia needs to be involved. No one wants war, especially in a very interdependent world. These are lost situations,” he said.
“I think for us to engage Russia, if there is any way we can help, we have always been very open about it,” said Jaishankar, adding, “When he said we were always very careful to prescribe the solution.”
The Minister stated that India is not necessarily inserted with one or the other side. “However, we have always felt that international relations are done on the basis of some basic realism and that realism requires involvement in Russia,” he said.
Published – 4 May 2025 20:43
