India remains a natural partner for Russia as Moscow turns increasingly toward Asia amid its deteriorating relations with European nations, Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar has said. Maintaining strong ties with Moscow serves the interests of both countries and the wider world, he added.

Russia’s relationship with Europe has become “pretty much a broken, embittered relationship,” pushing Moscow to strengthen its ties with Asia, particularly China, Jaishankar told the Bloomberg New Economy Forum in New Delhi on Tuesday.

He noted that Russia had historically considered itself a European country and valued its relationships with both Europe and the US, but that sanctions following the escalation of the conflict in Ukraine had pushed it toward Asia.

The European Union on Monday adopted new sanctions targeting 826 Russian companies and 743 executives, saying the restrictions were intended to increase pressure on Moscow over the Ukraine conflict.

The Indian foreign minister said it is in New Delhi’s interest, and that of the wider world, for Russia to have multiple choices and maintain substantial partnerships with other Asian powers. “We are a natural option in that regard,” Jaishankar said, pointing to nearly eight decades of steady relations between New Delhi and Moscow.

India has continued to assure Russia that despite changes in the international order and Moscow’s strategic calculations, the longstanding bilateral partnership remains intact, he said.

The relationship has served both countries and contributed to the balance of power in Asia, Jaishankar added.

India and Russia have maintained close ties for decades, particularly in defense, energy, and space cooperation. The two countries formalized a strategic partnership in 2000 and elevated it to a Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership in 2010.

They are also targeting $100 billion in bilateral trade by 2030, compared with $68.7 billion in the 2024-25 financial year. Russian oil remains a major component of India’s imports, despite pressure from Washington to scale back purchases.

New Delhi has also stepped up its involvement in efforts to end the Ukraine conflict, which it has maintained should be resolved through dialogue and diplomacy.