New Delhi, Sept. 8 -- Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin will hold a bilateral meeting in New Delhi on Friday, September 11, ahead of the 18th BRICS Summit, with defence, energy, technology, trade and the Ukraine conflict expected to figure in their discussions, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said on Tuesday. The meeting will take place a day before the two-day summit begins at Bharat Mandapam on September 12.
Putin is scheduled to visit India for the summit, which will be hosted by Modi under India's BRICS chairship for 2026. Peskov said the two leaders would first take up the bilateral agenda and described their relationship as "very pragmatic", saying they can discuss sensitive issues in an open and constructive manner.
Defence cooperation is expected to be a key part of the talks. Peskov said Moscow would discuss the proposed sale of Su-57 fifth-generation fighter jets to India and is open to sharing technology linked to the aircraft. The two sides are also exploring upgrades to BrahMos missiles, while Russia remains committed to completing pending deliveries of the S-400 air defence systems.
Energy ties are also likely to receive attention. Peskov said India's Russian crude purchases were continuing at high levels, with volumes setting new records each month, although he did not provide figures. Russia and India are also looking at negotiations for India's plans to build new civil nuclear reactors.
On trade, Moscow said it was aware of India's concerns over the growing trade deficit in Russia's favour and was considering ways to address the imbalance. Peskov said most bilateral trade is now conducted in national currencies and that the accumulated rupee payments issue is gradually being resolved.
He also welcomed Indian investments and business expansion in Russia, while saying Russian companies were keen to increase their presence in India.
Peskov also criticised a proposed US measure seeking tariffs of up to 100 per cent on countries importing Russian crude. Describing the proposal as "illegal, unfair and unexpected", he said Russia would continue to pursue trade arrangements using national currencies. He said around 90 per cent of Russia's transactions with BRICS countries are now carried out in their national currencies.
The Ukraine conflict will also be discussed during Modi and Putin's meeting. Peskov said Russia welcomed New Delhi's willingness to contribute to efforts for a peaceful settlement and said Moscow's position broadly corresponded with India's approach of resolving the conflict through dialogue and diplomacy.
"We welcome the willingness of the Indian side to contribute," Peskov said, while also welcoming US President Donald Trump's efforts to find a resolution.
Modi has repeatedly called for an end to the fighting. During his recent meeting with Putin on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Bishkek, he said, "We must move from endless war towards the end of war." He said India supported all efforts for peace and would continue to do so.
PM Modi and Putin most recently met on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. It was their first face-to-face meeting since the annual India-Russia Summit in New Delhi last December.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar also recently travelled to Kyiv, where he said India was prepared to contribute to efforts aimed at bringing peace. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said New Delhi remained in contact with both Russia and Ukraine and was examining ideas that could help bring about a cessation of the conflict.
The two sides are also working on the return of Indian citizens associated with the Russian military. Peskov said Russia was identifying Indians still on the battlefield and preparing a list so they could return home. Jaiswal said more than two dozen Indians are employed with the Russian military. Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri had earlier said about 51 Indians working with the Russian military had died.
The BRICS summit will bring together the grouping's 11 full members: Brazil, China, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Iran, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa and the UAE. Indonesia became a full member in 2025. Ten partner countries, including Belarus, Bolivia, Cuba, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Nigeria, Thailand, Uganda, Uzbekistan and Vietnam, are also part of the wider BRICS framework.
India's 2026 chairship theme is "Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability", with the agenda covering trade, agriculture, healthcare, energy, digital technology, startups, climate action, urban development and cultural exchanges. Chinese President Xi Jinping is expected to attend the summit, which would mark his first India visit since his 2019 informal meeting with Modi in Mamallapuram.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.