'Waiting for PM Modi', want bilateral meeting in October, Putin tells Doval

Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed his anticipation for Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s attendance at the upcoming BRICS summit in Kazan later this year and proposed holding bilateral talks during the event, Russian state media outlet TASS reported Thursday (September 12).

Putin conveyed his invitation during a meeting with Indian National Security Advisor Ajit Doval in St. Petersburg.

India’s Ministry of External Affairs confirmed the meeting, with spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stating, “NSA Doval met with President Putin. He has other engagements in Russia.”

Calls for India as mediator

Earlier this month, Putin suggested that China, India, and Brazil could play a role as mediators in peace talks over the conflict in Ukraine.

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“We respect our friends, partners, who, I believe, are sincerely interested in resolving all issues related to this conflict. This is primarily the People’s Republic of China, Brazil, India. I am constantly in contact with our colleagues on this issue. And I have no doubt that the leaders of these countries, we have a trusting relationship with them, sincerely strive to help understand all the details of this complex process,” Putin had said.

The calls for India to play a role as a peacemaker in the Russia-Ukraine War have increased in recent days.

India is one of the few nations with an open line of communication with both sides in the conflict. Throughout the conflict, PM Modi has been one of the few world leaders who have maintained constant communication with both Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

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India’s position on Russia-Ukraine war

In the Russia-Ukraine war, India has maintained a position of formal neutrality to protect its interests.

This has involved abstaining from key votes at the UN Security Council, General Assembly, and Human Rights Council that condemned Russia’s actions in Ukraine.

Additionally, India has refrained from openly criticising Moscow and Putin as the aggressors in the crisis.

With inputs from agencies