National Security Adviser (NSA) Ajit Doval and his Russian counterpart Nikolay Patrushev spoke over the telephone Wednesday for the first time since Russia faced an attempted armed mutiny led by Yevgeny Prigozhin, a former close aide of Vladimir Putin and founder of the Wagner group.
During the call, Patrushev is believed to have “apprised” Doval of what exactly happened last Friday and how Russia ultimately managed to douse the situation, sources told ABP Live.
According to a statement issued by Patrushev’s office, “The current issues of cooperation in the field of security and the prospects for deepening within the framework of bilateral and multilateral formats were discussed in detail."
READ | The Wagner Group Rebellion: Unravelling The Rift Between Putin And Prigozhin
Patrushev also informed Doval about the “latest events in Russia”, the statement said, adding that both of them agreed to continue a confidential dialogue.
Last week, Prigozhin, who has now run away to Belarus, attempted to take over Moscow by launching an attack on the Russia government and the military by his group of mercenaries but failed. Putin called the move as an act of “treason”.
Patrushev last came to India during the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation’s (SCO) meeting of the NSAs track that took place in New Delhi in March.
Meanwhile, on Wednesday, Russia’s foreign minister Sergey Lavrov met Pavan Kapoor, Ambassador of India to Russia, along with the envoys of Argentina, Brazil, China, Indonesia, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, South Africa and Turkey.
In the meeting, Lavrov once again reiterated Russia’s support for India’s G20 presidency and discussed the impact of western sanctions on global food and energy security.
As per the latest report issued by the Russian Ministry of Defence on the Ukraine war, in the past 24 hours Russia has killed and wounded 530 Ukrainian troops, one tank, two infantry fighting vehicles, five motor vehicles, as well as Msta-B and D-20 howitzers.
On the other hand, the European Union (EU) deliberated on providing long-term military support to Ukraine and granting membership of NATO to Kyiv.