Putin invites Modi for talks at BRICS as Doval lists details of PM’s Kyiv visit

In a boost to peace efforts in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Indian National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval met Russian President Vladimir Putin today and conveyed details of the discussions between India and Ukraine on possible measures for resolving the conflict.

Doval met Putin on the sidelines of the Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa (BRICS) NSAs meeting at Saint Petersburg. During the meeting, Putin proposed a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi next month on the sidelines of the BRICS leaders’ summit in Kazan, Russia.

PM Modi and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had met in Kyiv on August 23, with Doval present among the inner core group of Modi’s team during the meeting. The Indian NSA conveyed details of the talks in Kyiv, according to the Kremlin, which published a transcript and photos of the Putin-Doval meeting on its website. The transcript quoted Doval as saying, “He (Modi) wanted me to come in person and tell you about the talks that took place (in Kyiv). It was a closed format, only the two leaders were present, and I was with Prime Minister (Modi); I witnessed this conversation.”

Earlier this month, Putin suggested that China, India, and Brazil could act as mediators in potential peace talks with Ukraine.