India’s National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval is in Russia to hold crucial talks with other NSAs, including his Russian counterpart Sergei Shoigu, regarding several issues pertaining to national security and cyberterrorism. This visit comes in the backdrop of several calls for India to mediate peace talks between Russia and Ukraine. This follows PM Modi’s visit to Ukraine and Russia to foster diplomatic ties between the two countries. The Russian President, Vladimir Putin, had previously expressed willingness to engage in peace talks with India, along with China and Brazil, taking a mediating position in the peace talks.
Prime Minister Modi had previously expressed interest in playing an “active role” in achieving peace between the warring nations during his historic meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv. This meeting’s significance was underscored by the fact this was an Indian Prime Minister’s first visit to the country since its independence in 1992.
Doval is reportedly presenting a peace plan drafted by the Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, as part of India’s attempt to mediate the Russian-Ukraine peace talks.
India also holds a unique diplomatic position wherein it enjoys amicable relationships with both Russia and Ukraine. This places India in key position to mediate a peaceful resolution between Russia and Ukraine.
This sentiment was echoed by Union Minister of External Affairs, S Jaishankar, who previously stated that resolution can only be achieved outside the battlefield during the Annual Ambassadors’ Conference of the German Foreign Office in Berlin.
BRICS NSA Meeting in Russia
Ajit Doval attended the BRICS National Security Advisers meeting in St. Petersburg, Russia. The meeting reportedly focused on addressing modern security challenges, including issues related to information and communication technology (ICT) and terrorism.
BRICS is an informal intergovernmental organisation that initially comprised of five major countries denoted by their initials in the acronym – Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. In 2024, BRICS expanded its membership to include Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
During the meeting, Doval emphasized the need for joint efforts within the BRICS framework to tackle these challenges. He called for enhanced cooperation among BRICS nations to combat terrorism and cybercrime. Additionally, Doval briefly interacted with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi regarding the importance of multilateralism and collaboration.
On the sidelines of the BRICS meeting, Doval also held wide-ranging talks with his Russian counterpart, Sergei Shoigu. Both sides reviewed the progress in various areas of bilateral cooperation, including defense, security, and economic partnerships, according to the Indian Embassy in Russia. It is understood that bilateral issues as well as global developments, including the Ukraine conflict were a crucial topic in the talks.
Putin advocates for India, China, and Brazil as mediators for peace talks
President Putin recently shared his openness to entering peace talks with Ukraine with India, China, and Brazil acting as mediators.
Speaking at the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok, Putin highlighted the trust and confidence he shares with the leaders of these countries.
Putin mentioned that these nations could serve as honest brokers in the negotiations, given their balanced relationships with both Russia and Ukraine. He emphasized that Russia has never been closed to peace talks and referred to preliminary agreements reached in the early weeks of the conflict, which could serve as a basis for future discussions.
PM Modi’s visit to Ukraine
During his visit to Ukraine, PM Modi expressed his wish to play an “active role” in achieving a peaceful resolution in the conflict. According to reports, PM Modi told President Volodymyr Zelensky that both Ukraine and Russia should sit together without wasting time to end the ongoing war. India reportedly offered to help end the conflict as during his visit to Ukraine, PM Modi told Zelenskyy that India is ever ready to put in every effort to restore peace and he would like to contribute personally to ending the conflict.
According to a Russian news portal, Kremlin Spokesperson Peskov emphasized the “highly constructive, even friendly relations” between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin in a recent interview with the Russian daily newspaper Izvestia. Peskov also highlighted India’s potential role in mediating the ongoing Ukraine conflict. He noted that PM Modi’s unique position allows him to “lead the line on getting first-hand information from the participants in this conflict,” given his open communication channels with President Putin and Volodymyr Zelensky.
“This gives a great opportunity for India to throw its weight in world affairs, to use its influence that would drive the Americans and Ukrainians towards using a greater political will and entering the peaceful settlement track,” Peskov stated.
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