India’s National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval is scheduled to visit Moscow, Russia, for two days next week to participate in discussions aimed at resolving the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war. Sources have informed India Today TV that Doval is expected to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin during his visit, with the primary focus being on promoting peace efforts related to the conflict.
The visit, planned for September 10-11, will also see Doval participating in the BRICS-NSA meeting. BRICS is a group of ten nations including Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Iran, Egypt, and Ethiopia. The last BRICS-NSA meeting took place in Johannesburg, South Africa, in 2023, where Doval represented India.
Doval’s trip follows Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent visits to both Russia and Ukraine in the past two months. During these visits, Modi met with both President Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, engaging in discussions about the war and potential solutions.
In addition to the BRICS-NSA meeting, Doval will hold bilateral meetings with his Russian and Chinese counterparts. These meetings are likely to be centered around further discussions on the issues raised at the July summit in Moscow.
Following his meeting with President Zelensky, Modi spoke with President Putin over the phone on August 27. During the conversation, Modi informed Putin about his visit to Kyiv and emphasized India’s commitment to achieving a peaceful resolution to the Ukraine conflict through political and diplomatic means, according to a statement released by the Russian Embassy. Sources cited in an NDTV report indicate that it was during this phone call that the leaders decided on NSA Doval’s trip to Moscow for peace talks.
While specific details about the visit are limited, Prime Minister Modi has consistently stated during his visits to Russia and Ukraine that India has never been neutral but has always stood for peace. President Putin has also publicly mentioned India as one of the three countries Russia is actively engaging with regarding the Ukraine conflict.
