A screengrab of a video showing Ajit Doval (L) during his meeting with Vladimir Putin, while the Russian secretary of the security council, Sergei Shoigu (R), looks on.
New Delhi: The national security advisor, Ajit Doval, met with the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, on Tuesday. The meeting took place in the Konstantinovsky Palace (Constantine Palace) on the sidelines of the BRICS national security advisers’ meeting, held in St Petersburg, Russia.
During the meeting, Doval briefed Putin on several critical issues, primarily focusing on the recent Ukraine visit by the prime minister, Narendra Modi, his meeting with the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine. Doval conveyed Modi’s message, emphasizing India’s commitment to facilitating peace and stability in the region and shared insights from Modi’s recent visit to Ukraine, where the prime minister met with Ukraine’s Zelenskyy.
During the meeting, Doval highlighted the importance of dialogue and diplomacy in resolving the Russia-Ukraine conflict, reiterating Modi’s stated stance – “the road to resolution can only be found through dialogue and diplomacy.” He also conveyed Modi’s willingness to contribute to peace efforts, underscoring India’s role as a neutral mediator in the conflict.
The necessity of Doval's visit to Moscow stemmed from the urgent need to debrief Moscow about what transpired between New Delhi and Ukraine during Modi’s Kyiv visit and discussions with Zelenskyy, as Russia is a key strategic partner of India. The NSA’s meeting was also to discuss India’s position in the Russia-Ukraine conflict and brief the Russian leadership of India’s proactive diplomatic efforts to foster dialogue and reduce hostilities.
In a transcript of the meeting released by the Kremlin [archived link], Doval said: “Excellency, I have come here on the direction of Prime Minister Modi, who has conveyed his highest regards to you. His visit to Moscow was greatly successful and he was highly satisfied with the visit because he has come back with some precious memories.”
He then said, “As the prime minister told you during your telephone talk, he was keen to brief you about his visit to Ukraine and his meeting with President Zelensky. And he wanted me to come specially and personally and brief you on the talks. The talks were in a closed format; it was only the two leaders. He had two people with him, and I happened to be with the prime minister. So, I witnessed that, I attended that conversation.”
⚡️BREAKING: ??NSA Doval, per Modi's request, briefed ??Putin on Indian PM's meet with Zelensky
— Sputnik India (@Sputnik_India) September 12, 2024
Doval witnessed their conversation firsthand, the meeting was conducted in a closed format
Modi asked Doval to come in person and brief Russian president on the talks pic.twitter.com/hkTUY30zkz
Doval’s face-to-face meeting with Putin is seen as crucial in conveying India’s position and exploring potential avenues for peace.
Moreover, the meeting underscored the strategic importance of India-Russia relations. By engaging directly with Putin, Doval reinforced the longstanding partnership between the two nations, highlighting their shared interests in regional security and stability. The visit also provided an opportunity to discuss bilateral issues and strengthen cooperation in various sectors, including defence and energy.
During the meeting, Putin proposed a bilateral meeting with Modi on the sidelines of the upcoming BRICS Summit in Kazan, scheduled for October 22, to review the progress of joint initiatives and outline future prospects.
According to the Kremlin transcript, Putin said: “Our [Russia and India’s] special privileged strategic partnership is gaining momentum and growing stronger, which we are delighted about. …” He then added, “Security issues have always been, and continue to be, among our top priorities. We appreciate your visit to St Petersburg, following last year’s meeting in Moscow. Thank you for continuing to support this dialogue from the Indian side.”
The Russian president then said: “We will be expecting Mr Modi in Kazan. I also suggest holding a bilateral meeting there on October 22 in order to close the books on our joint work in implementing the agreements reached during his visit to Moscow and outline some prospects for the near future.”
India’s active involvement in peace efforts reflects its growing role on the global stage as a mediator and advocate for dialogue. The meeting also highlights the importance of multilateral platforms like BRICS in addressing global security challenges and fostering cooperation among member states.
