India is intensifying its efforts to mediate peace in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, with National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval set to visit Moscow on September 10-11. Doval will attend the BRICS NSA meeting and engage in pivotal discussions aimed at resolving the war that has lasted over two-and-a-half years. According to top government sources, the European Union has shown interest in India playing a significant role in the peace process.

BRICS NSA-Level Talks

During the BRICS NSA-level talks, Doval will represent India and is expected to meet his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi. Russia has recently indicated its preference for India’s involvement in ending the war, a sentiment echoed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his meeting with President Vladimir Putin in July. Despite India’s strategic interests in Russia, particularly concerning oil and weapons purchases, the Indian government is cautious about being a direct mediator. Nonetheless, both Italian PM Giorgia Meloni and Putin have urged Modi to support peace efforts.

India’s Message: ‘Not an Era for War’

Doval’s visit to Moscow signals India’s growing role in mediating an end to the conflict that has claimed countless lives. PM Modi, a vocal advocate for peace, has reiterated his stance that “this is not an era for war” during his visits to both Ukraine and Russia in recent months. In Kyiv, Modi met President Volodymyr Zelensky and reaffirmed India’s commitment to peace. Modi also discussed India’s potential role in the peace process with President Putin during a phone call on August 27.

With the earlier peace talks in Istanbul failing to yield results and the situation worsening on the ground, India’s involvement in the negotiations could be crucial. All eyes will be on Doval’s visit to Moscow to see if it can open the door to a lasting peace agreement.