- By Nidhi Giri
- Tue, 22 Oct 2024 04:35 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday advocated for a peaceful resolution to the Russia-Ukraine war during a bilateral meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, in Kazan, on the sidelines of the 16th BRICS Summit. Highlighting the need for "peace and stability", the prime minister said that India is ready to provide all possible help in finding a solution to the conflict. This marks the second meeting between the two leaders within five months. The BRICS Summit, hosted by Russia, will take place in Kazan on October 22-23. On October 18, President Putin reiterated PM Modi’s stance on BRICS, emphasising that the group is not anti-West but non-Western in nature. He clarified that BRICS aims to foster cooperation without being directed against any country.
#WATCH | Russia: Prime Minister Narendra Modi meets and holds a bilateral meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, in Kazan on the sidelines of the 16th BRICS Summit.
(Source: Host Broadcaster) pic.twitter.com/FARmZH7T0U
— ANI (@ANI) October 22, 2024
"My two visits to Russia in the last three months reflect our close coordination and deep friendship. Our Annual Summit in Moscow in July has strengthened our cooperation in every field...In 15 years, the BRICS has created its special identity and now many countries of the world want to join it. I am looking forward to participating in the BRICS Summit tomorrow. I have been in constant touch with you on the subject of the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine. As I have said earlier, we believe that the problems should be resolved in a peaceful manner. We fully support the early establishment of peace and stability. All our efforts give priority to humanity. India is ready to provide all possible cooperation in the times to come," PM Modi said during the bilateral meeting.
In July 2024, PM Modi visited Russia on an official trip where both leaders co-chaired the annual India-Russia summit. The discussions included bilateral matters, the ongoing Ukraine conflict and other global issues. During that meeting, the prime minister emphasised that war cannot resolve problems and assured Putin of personal efforts to seek a peaceful resolution to the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Following the Russia visit, PM Modi made a diplomatic trip to Ukraine and held discussions with President Volodymyr Zelensky.
At the BRICS summit, PM Modi is expected to engage with other global leaders, including Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian. In recent weeks, Indian diplomats have held consultations with embassy officials from Turkey and Iran in New Delhi, indicating possible high-level meetings during the summit.
The potential meeting between PM Modi and President Erdogan is being viewed as an opportunity to ease tensions between India and Turkey. Erdogan had previously raised the Kashmir issue on global platforms, including the United Nations. However, he refrained from mentioning it at this year’s UN General Assembly, which is being seen as a positive gesture towards India.
BRIC, as a formal grouping, started after the meeting of the Leaders of Russia, India and China in St Petersburg on the margins of G8 Outreach Summit in 2006.
The grouping was formalized during the first meeting of BRIC Foreign Ministers on the margins of UNGA in New York in 2006. The first BRIC Summit was held in Russia's Yekaterinburg in 2009.
It was agreed to expand BRIC into BRICS with the inclusion of South Africa at the BRIC Foreign Ministers' meeting in New York in 2010. South Africa attended the 3rd BRICS Summit in Sanya in 2011.
A further expansion of BRICS took place in 2024 with five new members - Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.