National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval will travel to Moscow this week to hold discussions aimed at resolving the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, according to media reports. During his visit, Doval will reportedly also take part in the BRICS-NSA meeting in Moscow.
No details regarding the schedule of this visit are available currently, but reports said that the former IPS officer is also likely to hold bilateral meetings with his Russian and Chinese counterparts ahead of the BRICS Summit in Kazan in October under the Russian Presidency. BRICS is an informal group of 10 nations including Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Iran, Egypt, and Ethiopia. Doval also represented India in the last BRICS-NSA meeting held in South Africa's Johannesburg in 2023.
The NSA's visit comes after Prime Minister Narendra Modi toured both Russia and Ukraine in the past two months and met their leaders Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelensky, respectively.
Three days after his return from Ukraine, PM Modi spoke to Russian President Putin and “shared insights” from his trip to Kyiv. As per reports, it was during this conversation, that it was decided Doval would be visiting Russia to discuss ideas relating to peace talks with Ukraine.
According to a Kremlin readout of the call, PM Modi also confirmed his participation at the BRICS summit to be hosted by Putin in Kazan from October 22-24 this year. "Vladimir Putin shared his principled assessment of the destructive policies of the Kyiv authorities and their Western patrons, and went on to highlight Russia's approaches to resolving this conflict," the statement said.
PM Modi's Office also confirmed that two leaders exchanged views on the Russia-Ukraine conflict. "The PM shared insights from his recent visit to Ukraine. He underlined the importance of dialogue and diplomacy as well as sincere and practical engagement between all stakeholders to achieve an abiding and peaceful resolution of the conflict," a PMO release said.