Putin Begins India Visit for BRICS Summit, Modi Talks

AI FEED

Russian President Vladimir Putin has begun a three-day visit to India for the BRICS Summit.
Putin and Prime Minister Narendra Modi are set to discuss defence, energy, trade, technology and the Ukraine conflict.
Russia is also exploring BrahMos upgrades, S-400 deliveries, Su-57 fighter jets and cooperation on civil nuclear projects with India.

New Delhi: Russian President Vladimir Putin has arrived in India for a three-day visit that includes participation in the BRICS Summit and bilateral talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The visit is expected to focus on expanding cooperation between India and Russia in trade, investment, energy, defence and other strategic sectors.

Putin is travelling with a high-level Russian delegation. His visit marks his first in-person participation at a BRICS summit outside Russia since the Russia-Ukraine war began in February 2022.

The Russian president was received at the airport by Minister of State for External Affairs K V Singh. The Ministry of External Affairs described India-Russia ties as a longstanding relationship based on a special and privileged strategic partnership.

Putin India Visit: Modi Meeting to Focus on Key Sectors

Putin and Modi are scheduled to hold wide-ranging bilateral discussions on Friday afternoon.

The talks are expected to cover defence, energy, technology, pharmaceuticals and people-to-people exchanges, along with broader economic cooperation between the two countries.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov has also said Russia is discussing possible upgrades to the BrahMos missile system. Moscow remains committed to completing outstanding S-400 deliveries and is also discussing a possible supply of Su-57 fighter aircraft to India.

Energy cooperation is another major area of the relationship. According to Peskov, the two countries are also examining negotiations related to India’s plans for new civil nuclear reactors.

Ukraine War Likely to Feature in Modi-Putin Talks

The Russia-Ukraine conflict is expected to be an important subject during the Modi-Putin meeting.

The two leaders met recently on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Bishkek. During that meeting, Modi called for an immediate end to the conflict and urged Putin to move from an “endless war” towards an “end of war”.

Fresh diplomatic efforts have intensified in recent days, including initiatives involving the Trump administration aimed at finding a path towards resolving the conflict.

The upcoming talks could therefore provide an opportunity for Modi and Putin to discuss the situation in Ukraine and possible approaches towards peace.

BRICS Summit in New Delhi Amid Global Tensions

The two-day BRICS Summit in New Delhi begins Saturday, with leaders expected to discuss ways to strengthen cooperation among member countries.

India is positioning BRICS as an important platform for dealing with a fragmented global environment. Discussions are expected to cover collective resilience in areas including food, energy, healthcare, disaster management and critical supply chains.

The summit is taking place amid several international challenges, including the Russia-Ukraine war, the West Asia crisis and disruptions linked to the Strait of Hormuz. US trade and tariff policies are also expected to form part of the broader geopolitical backdrop.

Chinese President Xi Jinping, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi are among the leaders attending the summit.

Malaysia, the UAE, Ethiopia and Vietnam are also represented by senior leaders.