ST. PETERSBURG: On September 12, 2024, India’s National Security Adviser (NSA) Ajit Doval engaged in high-level diplomatic talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in St. Petersburg, on the sidelines of the BRICS National Security Advisers (NSAs) meeting.
With President Putin:
- Doval briefed Putin about Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent visit to Kyiv and his meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. This interaction underscores India’s supportive role in de-escalating the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
- Putin emphasized the importance of security issues in bilateral relations and proposed a meeting with Modi during the BRICS summit in Kazan from October 22-24. The discussion will focus on implementing agreements from Modi’s previous visit to Moscow in July.
With Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi:
- The primary focus was on resolving the four-year military stand-off at the Line of Actual Control (LAC) between India and China. Both sides agreed to expedite the disengagement process in remaining areas.
- There was also discussion about the potential for a meeting between Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Kazan next month.
- External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar later noted that 75% of military disengagement has been completed and emphasized the importance of maintaining peace along the LAC to normalize relations.
This diplomatic activity highlights India’s efforts to play a mediatory role in international conflicts while also addressing bilateral issues with neighboring countries.