National Security Adviser Ajit Doval met with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday during the BRICS National Security Advisers' meeting. The meeting, captured in a photo shared by the Russian Embassy in India, showed Doval and Putin exchanging a handshake.

Doval's visit to Russia comes shortly after Prime Minister Narendra Modi's significant visit to Ukraine. During that visit, PM Modi emphasized the need for Ukraine and Russia to engage in direct talks to resolve the ongoing conflict and offered India's assistance in facilitating peace.

Reports suggest that Doval's visit was intended to advance a peace plan proposed by PM Modi to President Putin. During the discussions, Putin expressed anticipation that PM Modi would attend the BRICS summit in Kazan next month. He also proposed a bilateral meeting with PM Modi on October 22 to review the outcomes of the agreements reached during Modi's Moscow visit and to discuss future prospects.

In addition to his meeting with Putin, Doval also held extensive talks with Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu in St. Petersburg on Wednesday. The discussions reportedly covered a range of issues of mutual interest, including the recent dialogue between PM Modi and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.