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

According to reports from Agence France-Presse, this three-day summit in Kazan marks Russia’s largest international event since its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Putin is eager to forge an alliance that challenges Western “hegemony.”

After a handshake and embrace with Putin, Modi noted, “We have been in regular contact regarding the conflict between Russia and Ukraine.”

He further stated, “We believe that disputes should be resolved peacefully. We fully support the prompt restoration of peace and stability.”

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

Since the onset of the Russia-Ukraine war, the Indian government has treaded carefully, committing to humanitarian aid for Ukraine while avoiding outright condemnation of Russia’s aggression.

Positioning itself as a potential mediator, Modi visited Moscow in July and Kyiv in August, encouraging dialogue between the two sides.

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

Key topics at the summit include escalating conflicts in the Middle East and Putin’s proposed international payment system led by BRICS countries, aimed at competing with the global SWIFT banking system—a response to Russian banks being excluded from it following the 2022 invasion.

The Kremlin claims that the BRICS summit is a diplomatic triumph and represents a failure of Western efforts to isolate Moscow following the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

Turkey, a NATO member, announced its intent to join BRICS in September, reflecting its complex relationships with both Moscow and Western nations.

In a troubling turn of events, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva sustained a mild brain hemorrhage after a fall at home right before the summit, leading to the last-minute cancellation of his participation.