With focus on serious humanitarian issues and the West’s sanctions against Russia, the BRICS summit comprising Brazil, Russia, India and China is likely to be held at the end of June. “The issues related to the Ukraine situation prevailing at the time of the Summit will be taken up on priority basis,” sources said. Since it is going to be held virtually, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be attending it, sources said. Sources told The Daily Guardian that PM Modi will use the occasion to highlight his concerns over human sufferings resulting from the war in Ukraine, and reiterate his view that the deadlock between Moscow and Kyiv should be resolved peacefully through dialogue.
“During his address at the virtual summit, PM Modi will remind the BRICS partners of their duty to support multilateralism, adherence to the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and respect for the legitimate security concerns of all countries,” sources said. “This will also be a veiled message for China,” sources said. The PM will also appeal to the global community through the forum to extend humanitarian assistance for the people in conflict zones, sources said. India will send out a message for Russia on the Ukraine invasion by raising “humanitarian” issues and killings. Sanctions being imposed by the western countries in the midst of the Russian invasion against Ukraine will also dominate the discussion. South Africa and Brazil, the two key partners of the grouping, have repeatedly backed India’s stand vis-à-vis the Ukraine situation. Both nations have stressed on the need for continued dialogue between Russia and Ukraine for a comprehensive solution to the crisis.
Sources said that the date for the summit has not been finalised as yet, but the BRICS leaders may hold the virtual meeting around 25 June. The meeting will see the PM Modi on the same platform as Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping and leaders of Brazil and South Africa. The interactions in this format will be important as they will be held for the first time since the Ukraine war has begun. It is important that this summit is going to be hosted by China for the first time since tensions broke out at the Line of Actual Control (LAC) resulting from the PLA troops’ transgression in April 2020. The last BRICS summit was hosted virtually by India.
Sources said that PM Modi was reluctant to attend the BRICS in-person summit in China due to its aggression along the LAC. When China’s foreign minister Wang Yi visited New Delhi last month, he was told by the External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and NSA Ajit Doval that Beijing can expect PM Modi’s visit only if there is a complete disengagement and de-escalation in Ladakh. Wang Yi was given the message when his request to meet PM Modi was turned down. “A virtual summit will be addressed by PM Modi, as this will give him the much-needed opportunity to send across his views on the Ukraine situation which will have wider and stronger global reach through the significant forum like BRICS,” an official says.