Ajit Doval likely to visit Russia for BRICS NSA meet; Ukraine conflict may figure in talks

Besides the original BRICS members, NSAs of Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) — who became members from January 1, 2024 — are also expected to take part in the meeting. The expansion took place last year at the BRICS leaders’ summit in South Africa.

The BRICS NSAs’ meet is taking place amid a renewed push for peace talks between Moscow and Kyiv to end the conflict. On September 5, Russian President Vladimir Putin had said that China, India and Brazil could act as mediators in potential peace talks.

Russia’s state-owned TASS news agency quoted Putin saying, “We respect our friends and partners who, I believe, sincerely seek to resolve all issues surrounding this conflict, primarily China, Brazil and India. I constantly keep in touch with our colleagues on this issue.”

Speaking at the Eastern Economic Forum (EEF) in Vladivostok, Putin said a preliminary agreement reached between Russian and Ukrainian negotiators in Istanbul in the first weeks of the war, and which was never implemented, could serve as the basis for talks, the Reuters news agency reported.

Putin’s remarks that BRICS leaders can play a role comes a month before Russia is scheduled to host the BRICS leaders’ summit in Kazan from October 22-24. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva are expected to attend the summit.

NSA Doval has participated in some of the talks at the international level on the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

PM Modi has spoken to President Putin and “exchanged perspectives on the Russia-Ukraine conflict” and “insights from the visit to Ukraine” last month.

Last week, Putin also made it clear that the Swiss-led peace summit, which was not attended by Russia, will not be considered for the talks. India had refused to sign the joint communique adopted at the Swiss summit in June, citing Moscow’s absence at the table.

Reporting on his remarks at the plenary session of the 9th Eastern Economic Forum (EEF), US media outlet Politico quoted Putin saying, “If there is a desire of Ukraine to carry on with the negotiations, I can do that.”

His remarks came within two weeks of PM Modi’s visit to Kyiv where he held talks with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

In his talks with President Zelenskyy, Modi had said both Ukraine and Russia should sit together without wasting time to end the ongoing war and that India was ready to play an “active role” in restoring peace in the region.

On Saturday, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, following her talks with the Ukrainian President, said India and China can play a role in finding a solution to the ongoing conflict.