Moscow: India’s National Security Adviser (NSA) Ajit Doval met Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday during the BRICS National Security Advisers’ meeting in St. Petersburg. The meeting was highlighted by a photograph shared on X (formerly Twitter) by the Russian Embassy in India, showing the two leaders exchanging a handshake.
This meeting took place shortly after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Ukraine, where he encouraged both Ukraine and Russia to engage in dialogue to end the ongoing war. Modi also expressed India’s willingness to play an “active role” in fostering peace in the region.
Doval’s visit to Russia is reportedly tied to India’s efforts to mediate in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, with speculation that he was carrying a peace plan from PM Modi for President Putin.
During the talks, Putin expressed optimism about Modi’s attendance at the upcoming BRICS summit in Kazan next month. He also proposed a bilateral meeting with the Indian Prime Minister on October 22 to discuss ongoing cooperation and future prospects, according to a statement released by the Russian Embassy.
The Russian President extended his warm regards to PM Modi, reportedly calling him a “good friend” and expressing anticipation for his visit.
Earlier, on Wednesday, Doval met with Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu for wide-ranging discussions on key issues of mutual interest. It is believed that Modi’s recent discussions with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy were a central topic in Doval’s talks with Russian officials.
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