Putin arrives in India for BRICS Summit, to hold bilateral talks with Modi

Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in New Delhi early Friday, September 11, to attend the 18th BRICS Summit and hold bilateral talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

“Warmly welcome President Vladimir Putin of Russia for the 18th BRICS Summit. He was received by MoS @KVSinghMPGonda at the airport,” External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said in a post on X early Friday. He called India-Russian ties a “multifaceted and longstanding” one anchored in a “Special and Privileged

Strategic Partnership”.

Warmly welcome President Vladimir Putin of Russia for the 18th BRICS Summit. He was received by MoS @KVSinghMPGonda at the airport.
India and Russia share multifaceted and longstanding ties anchored in Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership.#BRICS2026 #BRICSIndia2026… pic.twitter.com/pwxcO2aHLt

— Randhir Jaiswal (@MEAIndia) September 10, 2026

Putin is scheduled to meet Modi ahead of the two-day BRICS Leaders' Summit beginning Saturday. The Kremlin has said the talks will cover a wide-ranging bilateral agenda, with trade and economic cooperation expected to be a major focus.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Indian companies were interested in expanding their investments in Russia, while Russian companies were also looking to broaden their presence in the Indian market.

The leaders are also expected to discuss the Ukraine conflict, with Peskov saying the meeting would give Putin an opportunity to brief Modi on the situation on the battlefield. The two sides are expected to exchange views on international developments, including the situation in the Persian Gulf and around Iran.

Defence cooperation is also likely to feature prominently. Peskov earlier said the two sides were discussing further development of joint defence projects, including upgrades to BrahMos missiles, while the possible sale of Russia's Su-57 fighter aircraft to India is also on the agenda.

Nuclear energy and transport projects are other areas expected to come up. Peskov said Russia was awaiting negotiations with India on a new nuclear plant, while the two countries have also been working on connectivity projects including the International North-South Transport Corridor and Chennai-Vladivostok Eastern Maritime Corridor.

The Putin-Modi meeting comes as India hosts the BRICS summit on September 12-13 amid heightened geopolitical tensions, including the ongoing Iran conflict and pressure on Russia-linked energy trade.