NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin are scheduled to hold a bilateral meeting on Friday, with trade and economic cooperation expected to be central to the discussions, according to Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov. Moscow also welcomed India’s willingness to contribute to efforts aimed at achieving a peaceful resolution to the Ukraine conflict.
Putin is set to visit India for the BRICS Summit, which will commence in New Delhi on September 12. Ahead of the visit, Peskov stated that the trip will provide an opportunity for the two nations to discuss issues related to their bilateral relations. He expressed hope for the success of the summit, highlighting the close personal contact between the leaders of India and Russia.
“In a couple of days, President Putin will begin his India visit. You know that our two leaders, Indian and Russian leaders, are in very close personal contact. They are very pragmatic in their relationship, and they are sincere enough to discuss in an open and constructive manner the most sensitive issues of our agenda and our bilateral relations. Of course, it opens additional horizons for our cooperation,” Peskov said.
Peskov also mentioned that Russia is looking forward to negotiations with India regarding the establishment of new nuclear power plants and that the sale of Su-57 fighter aircraft to India is part of the agenda. He emphasized the importance of cooperation in the financial sector, noting that some countries are allegedly using their currencies as a means of political oppression.
“The cooperation space within the BRICS financial sphere is of great importance. Russia recently reached a level of 90 percent of all payments and transactions with BRICS countries being conducted in national currencies. It’s not because we aim for de-dollarization, but because certain countries are using their national currencies as tools for political oppression,” Peskov said.
India is set to host the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi on September 12-13, 2026. The grouping, which includes major emerging market economies and developing nations, continues to expand its role in global affairs. Originally formed as BRIC, comprising Brazil, Russia, India, and China, it held its first Foreign Ministers’ meeting in 2006, followed by its inaugural summit in Yekaterinburg, Russia, in 2009. South Africa joined in 2011, leading to the formation of BRICS.
Under India’s 2026 chairship theme, “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability,” New Delhi aims to advance the grouping’s agenda beyond political coordination to practical cooperation in various areas, including trade, agriculture, healthcare, energy, digital technology, urban development, small enterprises, startups, climate action, and cultural exchanges.