Moscow: Russia expressed its backing for India's quest to secure a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council. Russia commended New Delhi's adept management of contentious issues at the G20 Summit, hailing it as a genuine success in its foreign policy endeavors. The UNSC consists of five permanent members, including the UK, China, Russia, the US, and France, alongside ten non-permanent members. India has persistently advocated for UN reform to align with the evolving global landscape, seeking a permanent position on the Security Council. Sergei Lavrov affirmed this support during discussions with his Indian counterpart, S Jaishankar, who is currently on a five-day visit to Russia.

Sergei Lavrov praised the G20 Summit held in New Delhi earlier this year, characterizing it as a genuine triumph for India’s foreign policy. He emphasized the success of multilateral diplomacy, attributing it largely to the G20 Chair’s prevention of unilateral outcomes in the document. Lavrov highlighted the document’s reflection of a balanced alignment of interests, presenting it as a model for effective collaboration within the G20, as well as in the UN and the Security Council.

India, as the host of the G20, demonstrated exceptional diplomatic skill by bridging gaps among nations with divergent perspectives on the Ukraine issue. The G20 joint declaration, which tactfully avoided direct criticism of Russia for its conflict with Ukraine, is being hailed as a noteworthy diplomatic victory for India.

Besides that, meeting Russian President Vladimir Putin is a significant event for Foreign Minister S Jaishankar, distinguishing it from his meeting with his Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov, on Wednesday. During their discussions at the Kremlin, Jaishankar and Putin covered various topics, including the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. President Putin extended an invitation to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to visit Russia next year, expressing eagerness to host him.

Addressing Jaishankar, Putin acknowledged Prime Minister Modi's commitment to resolving the Ukraine crisis peacefully and assured India of sharing additional information on the matter. In a joint media appearance with Lavrov, Jaishankar expressed confidence in an annual summit between PM Modi and Putin next year, emphasizing the leaders' frequent communication.

The summit between Prime Minister Modi and President Putin will serve as the pinnacle of the strategic partnership between India and Russia, with 21 annual summits held alternately in both countries. Despite global concerns over Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the enduring ties between India and Russia persist. Jaishankar's comprehensive meeting with Russia's Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov focused on bilateral economic cooperation, culminating in the signing of crucial agreements related to the Kudankulam nuclear power plant in Tamil Nadu.

India's stance on the Ukrainian crisis emphasizes diplomatic resolution, and despite Western unease, the country has increased its import of Russian crude oil. This demonstrates India's commitment to maintaining strong ties with Russia amid global geopolitical challenges.