Can India broker peace between Russia-Ukraine? How New Delhi is positioning itself as Ajit Doval meets Vladimir Putin
Doval’s visit to Russia closely follows Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s engagement with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, during which India expressed its willingness to play an “active role” in promoting peace. Modi has consistently called for both Russia and Ukraine to engage in discussions, highlighting the need for dialogue and diplomacy to end the conflict.
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Russia-Ukraine War: Key Discussions at BRICS NSA Meeting
On Wednesday, Doval participated in the BRICS National Security Advisers’ meeting, where he addressed modern security challenges, including terrorism and information and communication technology (ICT)-related issues. The Indian Embassy in Russia shared updates on X, stating: “NSA Shri Ajit Doval is participating in the BRICS NSAs meeting in Saint Petersburg, Russia. During the sessions in the first half of the day, he spoke on modern security challenges, including ICT-related issues and terrorism, and the need to address them through joint efforts within the BRICS framework.”
The BRICS meeting provided a platform for India to emphasize the importance of collective efforts in addressing global security issues, particularly within the BRICS member states—Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. Doval’s remarks reflected India’s growing role in shaping discussions around global security.
Russia-Ukraine War: Putin’s Invitation and Bilateral Meeting Proposal
During his discussions with Doval, Putin expressed optimism that Prime Minister Narendra Modi would attend the upcoming BRICS summit in Kazan, Russia, scheduled for next month. According to reports from Russian media, Putin remarked, “We are waiting for our good friend (Narendra) Modi and best regards to him.” Putin also proposed a bilateral meeting with Modi on the sidelines of the BRICS summit, suggesting October 22 as a potential date for the two leaders to review the progress of joint projects and discuss future collaborations.
This invitation highlights the deep ties between India and Russia, which have continued to endure despite the challenges posed by the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. India’s balanced approach to international diplomacy, with open lines of communication with both Russia and Ukraine, positions it as a key player in potential peace efforts.
India’s approach to the Russia-Ukraine conflict has been guided by its commitment to peace, dialogue, and diplomacy. Prime Minister Modi’s recent visit to Ukraine, where he met with President Zelenskyy, reiterated this stance. During the meeting, Modi emphasized that India had never remained neutral in the conflict but had consistently been on the side of peace. “India was never neutral, we have always been on the side of peace,” Modi said during his Kyiv visit. He further offered India’s support in facilitating peace negotiations between the two warring nations.
Doval’s meeting with Putin comes just over two weeks after Modi’s visit to Kyiv. According to reports, Doval may have presented Modi’s peace proposal to Putin, which urged both Russia and Ukraine to engage in dialogue as the path forward. Putin referenced a preliminary agreement between Russian and Ukrainian negotiators from the early weeks of the conflict, which was reached during talks in Istanbul but never implemented. Putin suggested that this agreement could serve as a basis for renewed peace talks.
India’s stance has garnered attention from international leaders. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, after her meeting with Zelenskyy, highlighted the potential roles that India and China could play in resolving the conflict. Hungarian MP Balazs Orban also noted that India, as a rising power, is well-positioned to mediate between Russia and Ukraine. These remarks reflect the growing international expectation for India to take a proactive role in global peace efforts.
PM Modi’s Message: ‘Not an Era of War’
Prime Minister Modi’s call for peace has been consistent throughout the conflict. In September 2022, during the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit in Uzbekistan, Modi directly told Putin, “I know that today’s era is not an era of war, and I have spoken to you on the phone about this.” His statement underscored the importance of dialogue and diplomacy in resolving the crisis.
Reiterating this message during his address to the U.S. Congress last year, Modi stressed the need to end the violence, saying, “As I have said directly and publicly, this is not an era of war. But, it is one of dialogue and diplomacy.” This message has formed the cornerstone of India’s diplomatic efforts throughout the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
India’s Ongoing Diplomatic Efforts
India’s diplomatic outreach has been multifaceted. During Modi’s visit to Moscow in July 2023, he reiterated the importance of peace negotiations, telling Putin that “a solution to the Ukraine conflict is not possible on the battlefield, and peace talks do not succeed amidst bombs, guns, and bullets.” Modi expressed India’s willingness to support peace efforts in all possible ways, further strengthening India’s role as a mediator.
However, Modi’s Moscow visit drew criticism from Ukraine. On the day of his visit, a Russian missile struck Ukraine’s largest children’s hospital, targeting young cancer patients. President Zelenskyy expressed his disappointment, calling it “a devastating blow to peace efforts.” Zelenskyy took to social media platform X, where he posted, “It is a huge disappointment and a devastating blow to peace efforts to see the leader of the world’s largest democracy hug the world’s most bloody criminal in Moscow on such a day.”
Modi, in a veiled reference to the incident, remarked, “Everyone believing in humanity is pained if there is loss of lives. In that too, if innocent children are murdered; if innocent children die, it is heart-wrenching and very painful.”
India’s Key Role in Global Peace
With the BRICS summit in Kazan next month, India is expected to remain at the forefront of diplomatic efforts to mediate peace between Russia and Ukraine. Doval’s recent engagement with Putin and Russia’s continued outreach to India reflect the trust both sides place in India’s diplomatic role.
As the conflict drags on, with over 11,700 civilian casualties reported by the UN, India’s influence in shaping a resolution could be crucial.
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