Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin held wide-ranging bilateral talks in New Delhi on Friday, discussing cooperation in areas including politics, trade, defence, energy, space, skill mobility and people-to-people ties ahead of the 18th BRICS Summit.

The two leaders also discussed conflicts in West Asia and the Black Sea region, with particular focus on their impact on maritime trade and the safety and security of Indian sailors. Modi reiterated that dialogue and diplomacy remained the only way to resolve such conflicts.

Second Modi-Putin Meeting In Less Than Two Weeks

Modi and Putin greeted each other with a warm hug before beginning their talks, marking their second meeting this year. The two leaders had last met on August 31 on the sidelines of the 26th Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Summit in Bishkek.

Their latest meeting comes during Putin’s three-day visit to India for the BRICS Summit. The Russian president last visited India in December 2025 for the India-Russia summit.

The visit is also Putin’s first in-person participation at a BRICS summit held outside Russia since the beginning of the Ukraine war in February 2022.

Putin is accompanied by a high-level delegation, with the visit reflecting continued senior-level engagement between New Delhi and Moscow.

Maritime Trade And Global Conflicts Discussed

During their discussions, Modi and Putin exchanged views on the conflict in West Asia and developments in the Black Sea region, which have affected maritime trade and raised concerns over the safety and security of Indian sailors.

Modi reiterated India’s position that dialogue and diplomacy were the only way forward in resolving such conflicts.

The Russia-Ukraine conflict was also expected to be among the key international issues discussed during the Russian president’s visit.

At their meeting in Bishkek last month, Modi had urged Putin to move from an “endless war towards the end of war”, referring to the Russia-Ukraine conflict that began five years ago following Moscow’s full-scale invasion.

Ahead of Putin’s India visit, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov had said the Russian president would brief Modi on the current situation in the Ukraine conflict. Peskov had also said the two leaders would discuss bilateral relations and wider global developments.

Defence, Energy And Strategic Cooperation On Agenda

Friday’s bilateral meeting provided an opportunity for the two countries to review progress in their strategic partnership and discuss matters of shared strategic importance.

Defence cooperation was expected to be among the major areas of discussion, with ongoing and prospective defence projects likely to feature in the talks.

Cooperation in energy, space, economic and political sectors, along with skill mobility and people-to-people links, also formed part of the bilateral agenda.

Modi Gifts Russian Translation Of Thirukkural

Earlier, Modi presented Putin with a Russian translation of the Thirukkural, the work of the renowned Tamil poet and philosopher Thiruvalluvar. The text contains extensive writings on subjects including agriculture and farmers.

Following their bilateral meeting, Modi and Putin travelled together in the Russian president’s car. It was the third occasion on which the two leaders have shared a car.

BRICS Summit To Begin In New Delhi

India, which holds the BRICS chairmanship for 2026, will host the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi on September 12 and 13.

The summit will bring together leaders of BRICS member states and partner countries, along with outreach invitees.

According to the Ministry of External Affairs, leaders attending the summit will exchange views on strengthening cooperation within BRICS on shared priorities and discuss global and regional developments of mutual interest.

The Modi-Putin meeting comes ahead of the summit and is expected to set the stage for further discussions between the two leaders as India hosts one of the year’s major multilateral gatherings.

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