Amid proactive diplomacy by India to bring Russia and Ukraine to the negotiating table, National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval met his Russian counterpart Sergei Shoigu on the sidelines of the BRICS NSAs meeting in St Petersburg.
”Mr Ajit Doval had a bilateral meeting with Mr. Sergei Shoigu, Secretary of the Security Council of the Russian Federation, on the sidelines of the BRICS NSAs meeting in Saint Petersburg. Both sides reviewed progress in bilateral cooperation and discussed important issues of mutual interest,” the Indian Embassy in Russia said on ‘X’.
Bilateral issues as well as global developments, including the Ukraine conflict, are understood to have figured in the talks.
“New, Delhi is one of Moscow’s main like-minded partners in the world arena, whose friendship has confidently stood the test of time. Our countries are jointly grappling with the challenges of the 21st century, Mr Shoigu underscored. At the meeting, a wide range of issues of mutual interest were discussed,” the Russian Embassy in India said in a statement shared on Telegram.
Mr Doval, on Wednesday, attended the BRICS NSAs meeting at which the issue of terrorism figured prominently.
His visit to Russia came close on the heels of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s trip to Ukraine. The PM had, in July, visited Russia and called for an early resolution of the conflict through peaceful talks.
Several Western nations believe India could play a role in ending the conflict given its friendship with both Russia and Ukraine. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, following her talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Saturday, said India and China can play a role in finding a solution to the conflict.
Russian President Vladimir Putin, speaking at a panel discussion at the Eastern Economic Forum in the Russian city of Vladivostok on Thursday, named India, Brazil, and China as possible intermediaries that could play a role in resolving the conflict.
Shortly after his trip to Ukraine and meeting with President Zelensky, PM Modi spoke to President Putin over the phone on August 27. A Russian Embassy statement then said that he informed President Putin about his visit to Kyiv and stressed India’s commitment to bringing about a settlement by political and diplomatic means.