India, Russia have exceptionally steady & time-tested relationship: Jaishankar

The External Affairs minister says the objective now is to fashion a balanced, mutually beneficial long-term engagement in the backdrop of the increasing economic cooperation

NEW DELHI: India and Russia have an "exceptionally" steady and time-tested relationship and the objective now is to fashion a balanced, mutually beneficial and long-term engagement in the backdrop of the increasing economic cooperation, External Affairs minister S Jaishankar said on Tuesday during talks with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov in Moscow.

In his opening remarks, he also said that the Covid pandemic, financial pressures and trade difficulties had taken a toll on the global economy.

"We are now seeing the consequences of the Ukraine conflict on top of that. There are also the more perennial issues of terrorism and climate change, both of which have a disruptive impact on progress and prosperity," he said.

"Our talks will address the overall global situation as well as specific regional concerns," he said.