Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in New Delhi early Friday for a three-day visit, setting the stage for crucial bilateral talks with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi ahead of the 18th BRICS Summit. The high-profile diplomatic gathering opens Saturday at Bharat Mandapam, focusing on trade, energy, and expanded defense cooperation.
President Vladimir Putin landed at Delhi airport on Friday, September 11, 2026, marking his first overseas participation in a BRICS summit since the conflict in Ukraine began in February 2022. Union Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh received the Russian leader upon his arrival. The visit brings two of the most consequential relationships in India’s strategic calculus into sharp focus as leaders from the expanded bloc gather in the national capital.
Bilateral Agenda: Defense Deals, Stealth Fighters, and Economic Ties
Following their recent meeting on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Bishkek on August 31, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Putin are scheduled for wide-ranging discussions. High on the agenda are strategic trade resilience, cross-border payment mechanisms, and energy security. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov highlighted the robustness of current financial exchanges, noting that the majority of our payment exchange is being done in national currencies.
“We’re looking forward to the President and Prime Minister having another bilateral meeting during the visit. It is scheduled. It is scheduled for Friday, so first, like always, they will touch on the bilateral agenda. Trade and economic cooperation is a very wide scope.”
Dmitry Peskov, Russian presidential spokesperson
Defense cooperation remains a central pillar of the partnership. Discussions are exploring the proposed supply of Su-57 fighter jets alongside upgrades to the BrahMos missile system and the fulfillment of remaining S-400 air defense system deliveries. Beyond military hardware, the two sides are reviewing civil nuclear reactor plans and exploring critical-minerals supply chains, including lithium, nickel, molybdenum, and caesium.
The 18th BRICS Summit Under India’s Chairship
New Delhi is hosting the annual leaders’ gathering under the theme Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability
. India’s chairship has overseen more than 350 meetings across 25 cities, steering the expanded bloc to champion the Global South’s core developmental priorities in food, energy, health, and disaster reduction.
The main summit proceedings begin Saturday at Bharat Mandapam in Pragati Maidan. Alongside Putin, the two-day event features top international figures including Chinese President Xi Jinping, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali.
Global Diplomacy Amid West Asia Escalation
The summit unfolds against a turbulent global backdrop marked by the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war and intensifying conflict in West Asia. During their Bishkek meeting, Modi urged Putin to move from an endless war towards the end of war
.
We have to move from a situation of ‘endless war’ to ‘end of war’…
Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of India
In addition to his talks with Modi, Putin is scheduled to address the plenary session of the BRICS Business Forum and visit the INNOPROM exhibition. His itinerary includes separate meetings with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, and New Development Bank President Dilma Rousseff, as Moscow explores further diplomatic engagements on the sidelines.
Summit Schedule and Concluding Events
The diplomatic calendar in New Delhi continues through the weekend, pairing intense bilateral negotiations with multilateral sessions. With security heavily stepped up across diplomatic enclaves like Chanakyapuri, leaders are balancing immediate economic accords with long-term regional stability frameworks.
