Ajit Doval and Vladimir Putin Discuss Ukraine Conflict Amid BRICS NSA Conclave in St. Petersburg

National Security Advisor Ajit Doval met with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Konstantinovsky Palace in St. Petersburg during a BRICS (Brazil-Russia-India-China-South Africa) NSA conclave. The discussions between Doval and Putin were held against the backdrop of ongoing international efforts to resolve the Ukraine conflict.

President Putin expressed his hope that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Russia next month for the BRICS summit, scheduled to take place in Kazan. Putin also proposed a bilateral meeting with Modi on October 22, aiming to assess and strengthen bilateral relations while exploring future-oriented strategies.

Alongside his meeting with Putin, Ajit Doval had a separate bilateral session with Sergei Shoigu, Secretary of the Security Council of the Russian Federation. Their talks focused on reviewing the progress of bilateral cooperation and addressing significant issues of mutual interest, including the persistent Ukraine conflict.

Doval’s visit follows Prime Minister Modi’s recent trip to Ukraine, during which Modi advocated for a peaceful resolution to the ongoing conflict. With India maintaining robust relationships with both Russia and Ukraine, Western nations see India as a potentially influential mediator in resolving the crisis. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has also indicated that both India and China could play crucial roles in finding a solution to the conflict.