Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended the BRICS summit held in Russia today, where he met with President Vladimir Putin. During their meeting, Modi expressed his hope for a peaceful and “swift” resolution to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

According to reports from AFP, this three-day summit in Kazan marks the largest international gathering since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Putin aims to establish an alliance that challenges Western “hegemony.”

After shaking hands and embracing Putin, Modi stated, “We often stay in touch regarding the conflict between Russia and Ukraine.” He further emphasized, “We believe that disputes should be resolved peacefully. We fully support a rapid restoration of peace and stability.”

Putin praised the “special strategic partnership” between Russia and India, promising to strengthen their ties.

Since the outbreak of the Ukraine war, New Delhi has navigated a delicate balancing act, pledging humanitarian assistance to Kyiv while refraining from directly condemning Russia’s actions.

Positioning itself as a potential mediator, Modi visited Moscow in July and traveled to Kyiv in August to encourage talks between both parties.

The BRICS summit in Kazan will see participation from over 20 international leaders, including Chinese President Xi Jinping, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.

Key topics on the agenda include the escalating conflict in the Middle East and Putin’s proposal for a BRICS-led international payment system to rival SWIFT. Since Russia’s invasion of Kyiv in 2022, Russian banks have been excluded from this international payment system.

The Kremlin has claimed the BRICS summit as a diplomatic success, asserting that Western attempts to isolate Moscow following the Ukraine conflict have failed.

Turkey’s recent announcement of its intention to join the BRICS organization reflects the complicated relationship Ankara maintains with both Moscow and Western nations, as it is a member of NATO.

Meanwhile, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva had to cancel his attendance at the last minute after suffering a fall at home that resulted in minor brain bleeding.