St Petersburg: National Security Advisor Ajit Doval met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in St. Petersburg on Thursday, where he delivered a special message and warm regards from Prime Minister Narendra Modi. In response, Putin extended an invitation to PM Modi for a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the BRICS summit in Kazan on October 22.
"We are waiting for Mr. Modi in Kazan, I suggest we also hold a bilateral meeting on October 22," Russian-state media TASS quoted Putin as saying during a meeting with Doval. Doval, in turn, conveyed the words of gratitude from the Prime Minister. He also informed about PM Modi's readiness to share information on his recent visit to Ukraine.
WATCH: NSA Doval meets Putin in St Petersburg
Why did Putin propose to hold a bilateral with PM Modi?
According to the statement released by the Russian Embassy in India, Putin sought a bilateral with PM Modi to summarise the outcomes of joint work on the implementation of the agreements reached during his visit to Moscow and to outline prospects for the near future.
Notably, Doval is in St Petersburg to participate in the meeting of BRICS and BRICS Plus High-Level Security Officials which is being held from September 10-12. During the conversation, Putin noted the successful development of the Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership between India and Russia and stressed the importance of security issues in bilateral relations, thanking the Indian Side for maintaining dialogue in this area.
BRICS Summit
It is worth mentioning the BRICS Summit is slated to be held in the Russian city of Kazan in October. The much-awaited event is dubbed to be crucial as the member leaders are supposed to join the meeting. Earlier today, when Putin met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, he confirmed the attendance of President Xi Jinping at the upcoming summit. The agenda will likely cover the ongoing global energy crisis, security challenges, and strategies to enhance collaboration among the BRICS nations. Besides, it is also expected that the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war will dominate the Kazan Summit.
The main highlight of the BRICS Summit would be the meeting between PM Modi and Putin as both leaders upheld a close and strategic relationship, marked by frequent high-level interactions. The upcoming meeting at the BRICS summit is anticipated to further strengthen the partnership between India and Russia, as both nations aim to navigate the shifting geopolitical landscape.
