Russian President Vladimir Putin, the first foreign dignitary to arrive in New Delhi for the BRICS Summit, held a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday, September 11, 2026. The leaders reviewed the full spectrum of bilateral ties as the summit opened, with Modi emphasizing India’s readiness to assist in peace efforts.
Modi highlighted discussions on closer trade ties, including the implementation of the Programme for Economic Cooperation 2030, and cooperation in infrastructure, energy, technology, defence, culture, and more. Sources said the two sides set a target to raise bilateral trade to $100 billion by 2030 and explored civil nuclear cooperation projects. Modi again called for an end to the Russia‑Ukraine conflict, which has lasted more than four‑and‑a‑half years.
The External Affairs Ministry noted that the leaders reviewed progress in political, economic, defence, energy, space, skill mobility and people‑to‑people domains. They exchanged views on the conflict in West Asia and the spillover effects of the Russia‑Ukraine war in the Black Sea region, which has threatened Indian seafarers; several Indian sailors were killed in attacks on foreign‑flagged vessels. Modi reiterated that dialogue and diplomacy were the way forward.
President Putin invited Modi to the 24th India‑Russia Annual Summit, which India accepted, with dates to be decided by mutual convenience. The talks also covered expanding industrial cooperation, railway and tunnelling collaboration, developing a steel value chain, and business‑to‑business opportunities. Measures to secure energy and fertilizer flows through joint ventures and critical minerals were discussed. Modi presented Putin with a Russian translation of the Thirukkural, and the Kremlin announced that Putin would visit the INNOPROM exhibition during his stay.
