External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Saturday, 3 October 2026, reaffirmed India's steadfast backing for dialogue and diplomacy as the path to resolving the Ukraine conflict, while chairing a parliamentary consultative committee meeting focused on India-Russia relations. The session reviewed the full breadth of bilateral engagement between the two countries across trade, investment, energy, connectivity, culture, and people-to-people ties.

Key Developments at the Meeting

The consultative committee meeting covered what officials described as India and Russia's 'multifaceted engagement.' Sectors discussed included bilateral trade volumes, energy partnerships — a relationship that has deepened significantly since 2022 — cross-border connectivity projects, and cultural exchanges. Jaishankar underscored India's active diplomatic posture on the Ukraine conflict, signalling that New Delhi views itself as a constructive stakeholder rather than a passive observer.

In his post on X following the meeting, EAM Jaishankar wrote: 'Chaired a consultative committee meeting on India - Russia relations. Highlighted various aspects of our multifaceted engagement including in trade, investments, energy, connectivity, culture and P2P domains. As well as our active support to dialogue and diplomacy to end the Ukraine conflict.'

Putin's Praise for PM Modi's Peace Efforts

The meeting comes days after Russian President Vladimir Putin publicly lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi's persistent efforts to help end the Ukraine conflict. Speaking at the Valdai Discussion Club in Moscow on Thursday, Putin said Modi consistently raises the issue at every bilateral meeting and has offered 'very good ideas' for finding a mutually acceptable solution.

'He is one of those world leaders who, despite our very good, even friendly, relations, and very good personal ties, constantly raises questions about ending the conflict in Ukraine. He always raises these issues at every meeting with us. He is keenly interested, and he has very good ideas aimed at finding mutually acceptable solutions. In this sense, the Prime Minister certainly takes a neutral position, but he is interested in ending the conflict. I simply consider it my duty to state this frankly,' President Putin said.

Putin also expressed gratitude, adding: 'We are grateful to the Prime Minister for his ideas — I won't go into details now — for his commitment to ending this conflict, including peacefully and as quickly as possible.'

Modi's Consistent Diplomatic Push

India's peace overtures are not new. Last month, on the sidelines of the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi, PM Modi once again told Putin that dialogue and diplomacy were the only viable path forward. The two leaders also exchanged views on conflicts in West Asia and the Black Sea region, both of which have disrupted global maritime trade and posed direct risks to the safety of Indian seafarers. Modi reiterated that India stands ready to assist in peace efforts across these theatres.

This pattern reflects India's broader strategic posture: maintaining close ties with Moscow while refusing to endorse the military campaign in Ukraine, and simultaneously engaging Western capitals. Critics argue this balancing act has grown increasingly complex as the conflict prolongs and global pressure mounts on neutral states to pick sides.

Why This Matters

India's engagement with Russia carries significant economic weight. Bilateral trade has surged in recent years, driven largely by discounted Russian crude oil imports that have helped cushion domestic fuel prices. Energy dependency adds a layer of complexity to New Delhi's diplomatic calculus. At the same time, India's articulation of a 'neutral but engaged' stance on Ukraine aligns with its longstanding doctrine of strategic autonomy — a posture that has drawn both appreciation from the Global South and scrutiny from Washington and Brussels.

With no ceasefire in sight, India's continued advocacy for dialogue keeps it relevant as a potential back-channel facilitator, even as formal peace negotiations remain stalled. The next round of India-Russia bilateral consultations and any follow-up diplomatic contacts will be closely watched for signals of progress.