ST. PETERSBURG: In a day of high-stakes diplomacy, National Security Adviser (NSA) Ajit Doval held crucial meetings with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Thursday, focusing on key geopolitical issues affecting India’s relations with both Russia and China.
During his visit to St. Petersburg for the BRICS National Security Advisers (NSAs) meeting, Doval briefed President Putin about Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent visit to Kyiv, where Modi met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The discussion was centered around the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, with Doval emphasizing India’s role in facilitating dialogue and supporting de-escalation efforts. Despite not proposing a structured peace initiative, India has expressed its willingness to act as a mediator and convey messages between the conflicting parties. Modi and Zelenskyy are expected to meet again in New York at the UN Summit of the Future later this month.
President Putin acknowledged India’s efforts in maintaining dialogue and proposed a bilateral meeting with Modi on October 22 during the BRICS Summit in Kazan. This meeting aims to review the implementation of agreements, particularly those related to trade and economics, from Modi’s previous visit to Moscow in July.
Earlier in the day, Doval also met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi at the BRICS NSA meeting. The primary focus of their discussions was the resolution of the military stand-off along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Eastern Ladakh. This meeting followed several recent engagements between India and China, including talks between Chinese Foreign Minister Wang and Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, as well as meetings of the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on India–China Border Affairs (WMCC).
Both sides reiterated their commitment to resolving the remaining issues along the LAC with urgency. The Ministry of External Affairs stated that peace and tranquillity in border areas are crucial for normalizing bilateral relations. Additionally, it was suggested that there might be a meeting between Prime Minister Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Kazan next month to further address these concerns.
External Affairs Minister Jaishankar, addressing an audience in Geneva, revealed that approximately 75% of the military disengagement between Indian and Chinese forces has been completed. He emphasized that continued disengagement and maintenance of peace along the LAC could pave the way for resuming normal ties between the two nations.
This diplomatic engagement underscores the ongoing efforts by India to navigate complex international relations and address critical regional issues with both Russia and China.
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