Nehru Told Queen Elizabeth 'India Will Always Be On The Side Of Russia': Ex-UK PM Boris Johnson

(MENAFN- Live Mint) The United Kingdom's former Prime Minister Boris Johnson made a striking remark about the India-Russia relationship on Saturday, recalling a conversation with the late Queen Elizabeth on the matter.

Speaking at The Economic Times 'World Leaders Forum', Johnson said he once told Queen Elizabeth II about "how difficult it was to persuade our Indian friends to firmly come down against Russia."

He then went on to share the late queen's response, in which she recalled her meeting with India's first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, in 1952.

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The Queen told Johnson that in 1952, when she met PM Nehru, he said that "India will always be on the side of Russia."

"Oh yes, I remember, in 1952, when I was talking to Prime Minister Nehru, he [Nehru] said, 'Your Majesty, India will always basically be on the side of Russia," said Johnson, recalling his conversation with the Queen.

"Somethings never change. They just are," ex-UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson said, adding that he was "very struck" by that "analysis."

"I don't know whether you agree with that analysis, but I was very struck by that. And, you know, I think we have to go with the historical reality," Johnson added.

Johnson said he had this conversation with Queen Elizabeth II shortly before her death in 2022. Elizabeth II was Queen of the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth realms from February 6, 1952, until she died in 2022.

At the summit, Johnson spoke at length about the protracted Russia-Ukraine war, the Strait of Hormuz crisis, India-UK ties and UK domestic politics, among other issues.

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The former UK Prime Minister's statement came amid the ongoing Russia-Ukraine wa. Russia launched what it called a "special military operation," against Ukraine in 2022.

Britain has been one of Ukraine's strongest supporters since Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022, providing military support, economic aid and diplomatic backing.

UK's Burnham to visit Ukraine

UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham will visit Ukraine on Monday on his first overseas trip since taking office, and will announce British support to help Kyiv improve its domestic production of long-range missiles.

Burnham will be in Ukraine to co-chair a meeting of the so-called Coalition of the Willing, a group of countries backing Ukraine, on Monday when he is also due to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Reuters reported.

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He is set to announce that Britain has agreed to allow European missile manufacturer MBDA to release classified information on British-made components used in the SCALP long-range cruise missile, according to his office.

That will help enable France and Ukraine to establish local assembly lines for the missile, which shares British and French technology, according to Downing Street.

"Ukraine's security is our security," Burnham said in a statement, adding that Britain would stand by Ukraine "for as long as it takes".

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