# A Warm Handwave in New Delhi: What Putin's Unscripted Greeting to Ajit Doval Reveals About India-Russia Strategic Ties

> During the BRICS 2026 summit hosted by India, an unscripted and warm gesture between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Indian NSA Ajit Doval highlighted the deep strategic and intelligence ties between the two nations.

**Type:** article · **Category:** Delhi · **Published:** 2026-09-11 · **Source:** TrendKia
**Canonical:** https://trendkia.com/en/delhi/new-delhi-men-russian-rashtrapati-ka-bina-protokola-vala-ishara-ajit-doval-se-putin-ki-mulakata-ke-kya-hain-kutanitika-mayane-31264 · **Language:** English
**Tags:** BRICS 2026, Vladimir Putin, Ajit Doval, Narendra Modi, India Russia Relations, Kremlin, Diplomacy, Security Partnership

An extraordinary diplomatic moment unfolded during the BRICS 2026 summit hosted by India, instantly capturing the attention of geopolitical observers worldwide. As Russian President Vladimir Putin and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi engaged in a warm greeting, a highly unusual and unscripted interaction stole the spotlight in the strategic corridors. Putin, while conversing with Modi, looked past him to catch the eye of India's National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval, offering him a warm smile and a friendly wave. This brief two-second gesture has since gone viral on social media, with netizens widely hailing it as a "Dhurandhar" moment of high-stakes diplomacy. In the refined world of international relations, when the head of a global superpower breaks protocol to personally acknowledge a foreign security advisor, it signals something far deeper than mere political courtesy. Putin's spontaneous wave is a vivid illustration of the profound strategic and intelligence ties binding New Delhi and Moscow.

## An Unscripted Encounter Amidst High-Profile Diplomacy
As President Vladimir Putin arrived to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi in front of the press corps, the atmosphere was charged with the gravity of global statecraft. The Indian Prime Minister stepped forward with great warmth, welcoming the Russian leader with a hearty handshake followed by a close embrace. However, the true highlight of this high-profile frame occurred when the focus shifted slightly to the background where Ajit Doval was standing.

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While sharing pleasantries with Modi, Putin's gaze swept over to India's national security chief. Recognizing the veteran strategist, Putin’s face lit up with a knowing smile, and he raised his hand in an informal, friendly wave. Doval, maintaining his characteristically poised demeanor, responded with an equally warm smile, acknowledging the Russian President's greeting. As seen in the video shared on X, this gesture was entirely absent from any official bureaucratic handbook or formal protocol. Instead, it highlighted an organic rapport shared by two powerful strategic minds who understand and respect each other's immense influence and capabilities. This brief, unscripted exchange serves as a powerful testament to the formidable intelligence-sharing network and security apparatus established between India and Russia.

## The Diplomatic Weight Behind a Casual Greeting
The security partnership and intelligence exchange between India and the Russian Federation are built on decades of mutual cooperation. As a former KGB officer himself, Vladimir Putin is intimately familiar with the intricate mechanics of intelligence work, which explains why he holds the strategic intellect of India's security mastermind, Ajit Doval, in such high regard.

In the international arena, heads of state typically reserve direct personal interactions for their official peers, such as other prime ministers or presidents. Interactions with cabinet ministers, national security advisors, or foreign diplomats are usually restricted to brief, formal handshakes dictated by protocol. When one of the world's most powerful leaders, like Vladimir Putin, goes out of his way to offer a personal, familiar greeting to a national security advisor, it carries substantial diplomatic weight.

First, it underscores absolute mutual trust, signaling that the Kremlin views Doval not merely as a high-ranking Indian bureaucrat, but as a highly trusted strategic counterpart. Second, it highlights the existence of a direct and highly efficient intelligence pipeline between Moscow and New Delhi, operating smoothly without any bureaucratic obstacles or the need for intermediary channels. Finally, this level of rapport is crucial for backchannel diplomacy. When public diplomatic channels hit an impasse due to sensitive international situations, the direct line of communication between Doval and the Russian leadership often helps resolve critical bottlenecks swiftly and quietly.

## Unfettered Access to the Kremlin's Inner Sanctum
The profound connection between the Russian President and the Indian NSA has been forged through years of quiet diplomacy, high-stakes negotiations, and crisis management. Over the years, whenever significant geopolitical challenges have emerged, Ajit Doval has traveled to Moscow to engage directly with President Putin. While the Kremlin rarely grants private, one-on-one audiences to foreign national security advisors, Doval has consistently enjoyed unprecedented access to Russia's highest echelons of power.

A notable example occurred in September 2024, during the meeting of BRICS National Security Advisors in St. Petersburg. President Putin hosted Doval for an exclusive, highly confidential bilateral meeting at the Saint Petersburg Palace. During this closed-door session, Doval personally conveyed critical, high-level messages from Prime Minister Modi regarding his landmark visits to both Russia and Ukraine, ensuring that India's diplomatic position was communicated directly to the Russian leader.

Prior to this, in February 2023, amid the heightened global anxieties of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Doval made an unannounced trip to Moscow. Despite the intense international scrutiny and pressure, Putin personally received Doval in his Kremlin office. The extensive discussions that followed centered on securing major defense agreements, ensuring long-term energy security, and formulating robust economic mechanisms to counter the impact of sweeping Western sanctions.

Doval’s active engagements continued in August 2025 with another crucial trip to Russia. During this visit, he collaborated closely with President Putin and the National Security Council of Russia to draft comprehensive strategies addressing highly sensitive defense, trade, and intelligence issues of mutual concern.

## Securing Energy, Defense Supplies, and Cybersecurity
Following the outbreak of the Ukraine crisis and the subsequent imposition of severe Western sanctions on Russia, India prioritized its national interests by continuing to purchase discounted Russian crude oil. Facilitating this massive energy trade under intense global scrutiny required masterclass backchannel diplomacy, a task that Doval managed seamlessly behind the scenes.

Furthermore, Doval's strategic leadership has been instrumental in ensuring the uninterrupted supply of vital military spare parts for the Russian-origin hardware heavily utilized by the Indian Armed Forces. By establishing robust working relationships with Russian defense and security leaders, such as Sergei Shoigu and Nikolai Patrushev, Doval helped build a highly resilient operational framework that remains unaffected by external geopolitical pressures. From sharing critical cybersecurity intelligence to collaborating on complex regional security challenges, the security architecture between India and Russia remains exceptionally solid. This deep-seated professional respect is precisely why, whenever President Putin and Ajit Doval meet, the Russian leader's genuine warmth and respect for India's top strategist are impossible to miss.

## What this means for you
The strengthening of strategic and intelligence ties between India and Russia directly impacts national security and economic stability for everyday citizens.

- **Across India (Security Impact):** Direct and seamless intelligence sharing between the two nations enhances India's ability to counter cross-border terrorism and cyber threats, ensuring a safer domestic environment.
- **In terms of Fuel Prices:** Strong backchannel diplomacy ensures a steady flow of discounted Russian crude oil to India, which plays a critical role in stabilizing fuel and petrol prices for Indian consumers.
- **For Defense Preparedness:** Guaranteeing the uninterrupted supply of military spare parts for Russian-origin hardware keeps the Indian Armed Forces fully combat-ready and equipped to protect the nation's borders.

## Why this happened
The special diplomatic recognition shown by the Russian President to India's NSA is the direct result of years of carefully nurtured security frameworks and highly effective backchannel diplomacy.

- **Intelligence Synergy:** As a former KGB officer, Putin uniquely appreciates Ajit Doval's exceptional strategic mindset and his deep control over complex intelligence operations.
- **Crisis Management:** Key high-level visits in February 2023 and September 2024 during global geopolitical standoffs established a direct, unhindered channel of communication between Doval and the Kremlin.
- **Mutual Economic and Military Interests:** Despite immense Western sanctions, India maintained its vital energy and defense trade with Russia, proving its reliability as a strategic partner to Moscow.

## Questions & Answers

### 1. Where is the BRICS 2026 summit being held?
The BRICS 2026 summit is being hosted by India.

### 2. What was the viral interaction between Vladimir Putin and Ajit Doval?
While greeting PM Modi, Putin looked past him to smile and wave informally at NSA Ajit Doval, bypassing standard diplomatic protocol.

### 3. Why did Ajit Doval make an unannounced trip to Moscow in February 2023?
Doval visited Moscow during the peak of the Russia-Ukraine war to discuss defense deals, energy security, and strategies to counter Western sanctions directly with Putin.

### 4. What was discussed during Doval's September 2024 meeting in St. Petersburg?
Doval held a private meeting with Putin at a St. Petersburg palace to convey high-level messages from PM Modi regarding his visits to Russia and Ukraine.

### 5. How did Ajit Doval help maintain the India-Russia energy trade?
Through clever backchannel diplomacy, Doval helped keep oil trade channels running smoothly, allowing India to purchase discounted Russian crude oil despite Western sanctions.

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