National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval’s meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin has reignited the conversations around India’s role as a peacemaker in the Russia-Ukraine War.
In recent months, calls for a proactive Indian role in the peaceful resolution of the Russia-Ukraine War have mounted. Such calls have only increased as Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited both Ukraine and Russia within a month’s time and spoke about playing a role in peace efforts.
On the sidelines of an NSAs’ meeting of the BRICS nations in Russia, Doval first met his Russian counterpart Sergei Shoigu and later Putin. Previously, the PTI reported that deliberations between Modi and Zelenskyy in Kyiv last month figured in the Doval-Shoigu talks.
Doval carried Modi’s message to Putin regarding Ukraine: report
Amid calls for an Indian role as a peacemaker, The Hindustan Times has reported that Doval indeed carried a message from Modi to Putin regarding Ukraine.
Doval told Putin that Modi was keen to brief him regarding Ukraine and has dispatched him as a messenger.
“He [Modi] was keen to brief you about his visit to Ukraine and his meeting with President Zelenskyy. He wanted me to come especially and personally to brief you about the talks. The conversation was in a very close format—only the two leaders. I attended the conversation,” said Doval to Putin, as per HT.
Regarding the developments on the peacemaking front, the newspaper reported that Modi during his visit to Ukraine shared “interesting ideas” with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy that had previously been discussed in July with Putin during the Indian prime minister’s Russia visit.
Doval, who accompanied Modi on both of the visits, is deeply involved in these peace initiatives which aim to find a solution to the conflict in Ukraine, according to the newspaper.
Modi has reportedly outlined a peace proposal
Ahead of Doval’s visit to Russia, it had been reported that Modi has outlined a peace proposal for the war in Ukraine.
The NDTV had reported sources as saying that Doval was going to present a peace proposal outlined by Modi to Putin.
The news channel further reported that it was decided in the Putin-Modi talks after the visit to Ukraine that Doval would travel to Russia for talks related to peacemaking efforts.