These are everyday conveniences: high-quality service, advanced digitalization, affordable transportation, and the successful implementation of the "15-minute city" concept.

"When we look out at the world, we look for partners; we do not look for preachers, particularly preachers who do not practice at home and preach abroad. I think some of Europe is still struggling with that problem. Some of it has changed," the External Affairs Minister said, adding, Europe has "entered a certain zone of reality check. Now, whether they are able to step up to it or not, it is something we will have to see," he said.

"But from our point of view, if we are to develop a partnership, there has to be some understanding, there has to be some sensitivity, there has to be a mutuality of interest and there has to be a realisation of how the world works. And I think these are all work in progress to differing degrees with different parts of Europe. So some have moved further, some a little bit less," Jaishankar said.

"Just like I am an advocate of Russian realism, I am also an advocate of American realism. I think the best way to engage today's America is also through finding mutuality of interests rather than putting ideological differences upfront and then allowing it to cloud the possibilities of working together," he said.

"Where Russia is concerned, we have always taken a view that there is a Russia realism that we have advocated. When passions were very high (in) 2022, 2023..if one looks back at that period, the kind of predictions and scenarios which were put forward have turned out not to be well founded," Jaishankar said.