PM reiterates dialogue on Ukraine in Putin meet; flags Indian sailors' safety

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday reiterated that dialogue and diplomacy were the way forward to resolve the Ukraine conflict and flagged the safety of Indian seafarers amid conflicts in West Asia and the Black Sea region during a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi.

The nearly 45-minute meeting at Bharat Mandapam marked Putin’s first in-person participation in a BRICS Summit outside Russia since the Ukraine war began in February 2022. It was also the second meeting between Modi and Putin this year.

PM Modi and Putin reviewed the progress of India-Russia cooperation across political, economic, defence, energy, space, skill mobility and people-to-people ties. They also discussed key regional and global issues, including the conflicts in West Asia and the Black Sea region, which have affected maritime trade and the safety of Indian seafarers.

The two leaders also discussed India-Russia engagement in BRICS under India’s 2026 chairship and agreed to further strengthen their “Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership”, which has remained resilient amid geopolitical uncertainties.

The Russian President also invited Modi to Russia for the 24th India-Russia Annual Summit. Modi accepted the invitation, with the dates to be finalised through diplomatic channels.

After the meeting, PM Modi and Putin once again travelled together in the same car to the InnoProm exhibition, marking the fourth time the two leaders have shared a car ride.

The leaders spent over half an hour at the exhibition, which was held for the first time in India from 9-11 September 2026, interacting with the participants before attending the Leaders’ Session of the BRICS Business Forum together.

Furthermore, at the start of the meeting, PM Modi gifted Putin a Russian translation of the ancient Tamil classic Thirukkural, a work that carries centuries-old wisdom from Tamil poet and philosopher Thiruvalluvar.

One of the most celebrated works of classical Tamil literature, Thirukkural has been translated into several languages and explores the many dimensions of human life: from morality and human conduct to relationships, life and death.

THE MODI-PUTIN EQUATION

The personal equation between the two leaders has remained an important pillar of the India-Russia strategic partnership. They have met 19 times over the past 11 years.

Putin last visited India in December 2025, when PM Modi reiterated that India was not neutral in the conflict but stood on the side of peace. He also described Putin as a visionary leader and stressed that the present era should be one of peace.

The latest talks come as the Ukraine war enters its fifth year. Western countries have imposed sweeping sanctions on Russia, while diplomatic efforts to secure a peace agreement have made little progress.

India is hosting the two-day BRICS Summit from Saturday, with discussions expected to focus on strengthening collective resilience in food, energy, health, disaster management and critical supply chains.

New Delhi is seeking to position BRICS as an effective platform for navigating an increasingly fragmented geopolitical and economic order.

XI’S INDIA VISIT ALSO IN FOCUS

Apart from Putin, the focus will also be on Chinese President Xi Jinping, who is expected to arrive on Saturday for his first visit to India since 2019.

Xi’s visit comes as New Delhi and Beijing cautiously work to improve ties following the deadly military clash along their disputed Himalayan border.

Flights, visas and high-level contacts have gradually resumed. However, the unresolved border dispute, widening trade deficit and strategic rivalry continue to complicate relations.