Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin began talks in New Delhi on Friday, September 11. This is the leaders’ second meeting in the past two weeks. The discussions are expected to focus on trade, energy, and defense cooperation between the two countries, which have long maintained friendly relations.
The talks are taking place ahead of the annual BRICS leaders’ summit in the Indian capital. Participants will include Chinese President Xi Jinping and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian. According to an Indian source, Narendra Modi and Vladimir Putin are set to discuss cooperation in civil nuclear energy, fertilizers, defense, critical minerals, industrial manufacturing, railways, and steel.
India’s position on the war in Ukraine
The previous meeting between Narendra Modi and Vladimir Putin took place on August 31 on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Kyrgyzstan. At that time, Narendra Modi stated that the war in Ukraine must end “for the sake of humanity” and said that New Delhi would support any peace efforts to end the hostilities.
Along with China, India is one of the largest buyers of Russian oil. These purchases are believed to help Moscow replenish its budget following the deployment of tens of thousands of troops to Ukraine in 2022 and the imposition of sweeping Western sanctions.
At the same time, India continues to resist pressure, emphasizing that its large population and economy require reliable, affordable, and stable energy supplies. New Delhi also maintains that the war in Ukraine can only be resolved through dialogue and diplomacy, rather than through some countries halting trade in energy, metals, or fertilizers with Russia.
The share of Russian oil in India’s imports grew in 2026, reaching a record 51% in July. This occurred against the backdrop of supply disruptions from the Middle East, which led Indian refiners to rely more heavily on Russian crude. According to Indian media reports, this share likely declined in August as China increased its purchases of Russian oil.
In December 2025, Vladimir Putin also visited India to attend the annual India-Russia summit. At that time, the countries agreed to expand trade and defense ties.
Source: Channel NewsAsia
