PM Modi, Putin hold bilateral talks on sidelines of BRICS Summit in New Delhi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin held bilateral talks on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit in New Delhi on Friday, with defence, energy and trade dominating the agenda.
The meeting marked Putin’s first in-person participation at a BRICS summit outside Russia since the Ukraine war began in February 2022.
The talks, which began at 3.30 pm, focused on strengthening cooperation in defence, energy, technology and pharmaceuticals, along with expanding trade, investment and people-to-people ties.
Energy cooperation assumed particular significance as India seeks stable fuel supplies amid the crisis triggered by the Iran conflict. Russia remains one of New Delhi’s key strategic partners and an important energy supplier.
Sources said the two leaders were expected to discuss the ambitious target of increasing bilateral trade to USD 100 billion by 2030.
Industrial cooperation was also likely to feature prominently, with discussions expected on holding INNOPROM in India, collaboration in railways and tunnelling, developing the steel value chain and creating more business-to-business opportunities. India is also seeking wider access to the Russian market.
Other probable areas of discussion included cooperation in critical minerals and the movement of more skilled Indian workers to Russia.
The two sides were also expected to explore stronger civil nuclear cooperation, including support across the nuclear fuel and plant life cycles.
Cooperation in fertilisers was another likely focus, with both countries looking at strategic joint ventures to maintain and increase supplies.UKRAINE WAR IN FOCUS
The meeting came days after Modi and Putin met briefly at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Summit in Bishkek. During those talks, Modi called for an immediate end to the Ukraine conflict and urged Putin to move from an “endless war towards the end of war”.
Putin last visited India in December 2025, when Modi reiterated that India was not neutral in the conflict but stood on the side of peace. He also described Putin as a visionary leader and stressed that the present era should be one of peace.
The personal equation between the two leaders has remained an important pillar of the India-Russia strategic partnership. They have met 19 times over the past 11 years.
The latest talks come as the Ukraine war enters its fifth year. Western countries have imposed sweeping sanctions on Russia, while diplomatic efforts to secure a peace agreement have made little progress.BRICS SUMMIT AMID GLOBAL CRISES
India is hosting the two-day BRICS Summit from Saturday, with discussions expected to focus on strengthening collective resilience in food, energy, health, disaster management and critical supply chains.
New Delhi is seeking to position BRICS as an effective platform for navigating an increasingly fragmented geopolitical and economic order.
The summit comes amid mounting pressure on the global economy from the Ukraine war, the conflict in West Asia, the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz and the Trump administration’s trade and tariff policies.XI’S INDIA VISIT ALSO IN FOCUS
Apart from Putin, the focus will also be on Chinese President Xi Jinping, who is expected to arrive on Saturday for his first visit to India since 2019.
Xi’s visit comes as New Delhi and Beijing cautiously work to improve ties following the deadly military clash along their disputed Himalayan border.
Flights, visas and high-level contacts have gradually resumed. However, the unresolved border dispute, widening trade deficit and strategic rivalry continue to complicate relations.- EndsPublished By: Aprameya RaoPublished On: Sep 11, 2026 16:00 IST
