Dialogue only way forward: Ahead of BRICS, PM meets Putin

The meeting took place hours after Putin landed in New Delhi on a three-day visit to participate in the high-stakes BRICS summit.

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday, September 11, raised the safety of Indian seafarers in the Black Sea with Russian President Vladimir Putin, reiterating India’s readiness to support any peace initiative to end the Ukraine conflict even as both leaders agreed to shore up bilateral trade ties amid growing uncertainties and geopolitical upheaval.

The meeting took place hours after Putin landed in New Delhi on a three-day visit to participate in the high-stakes BRICS summit.

Following the talks, the two leaders travelled in the same car inside the Bharat Mandapam complex to reach the venue of a business forum.

One tap — then press “Add” on Google

Signalling their resolve to maintain deeper engagement across diverse sectors, the two leaders agreed to work on further strengthening the India-Russia Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership.

According to an Indian readout, the partnership continues to register “significant growth” and has “shown resilience in the backdrop of geopolitical uncertainties”.

While reviewing trade and investment ties, the two sides resolved to push annual bilateral trade to USD 100 billion by 2030, up from the current USD 65 billion.

In a social media post, Modi said he and the Russian leader talked about closer trade ties, including implementation of the ‘Programme for Economic Cooperation 2030’ besides delving into engagement in areas like infrastructure, energy, technology, defence and culture.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in the readout that Modi accepted Putin’s invitation to travel to Russia for the annual summit talks between the two countries.

Defence, critical minerals, civil nuclear energy feature in talks

In their over 45-minute talks, Modi and Putin also agree to step up cooperation in defence, critical minerals, civil nuclear energy, fertiliser supplies and people-to-people exchanges.

The two leaders “shared perspectives on key regional and global issues of mutual interest, including the conflicts in West Asia and the Black Sea region which have impacted maritime trade and the safety and security of Indian seafarers”, the MEA said in the readout.

“The Prime Minister once again reiterated that dialogue and diplomacy were the way forward in resolving conflicts, and India stood ready to assist in peace efforts,” it said.

Five Indian seafarers died in the Black Sea due to ongoing Russia-Ukraine hostilities, prompting India to strongly raise the incidents with both Moscow and Kyiv.

India supports freedom of navigation: PM Modi

Speaking at a business forum after the talks with Putin, Modi said progress in global trade is possible only when sea lanes are secure, supply routes remain open, and seafarers are safe. “That is why India is a staunch supporter of freedom of navigation and the safety of seafarers.”

Modi and Putin previously met on the sidelines of the SCO summit in Bishkek last week, where the PM called for an immediate end to the Ukraine conflict and urged the Russian leader to shift from an “endless war towards the end of war”.

“The two leaders reviewed progress in bilateral cooperation in political, economic, defence, energy, space, skill mobility and people-to-people domains,” the MEA said.

It said they welcomed Russia’s International Industrial Exhibition “INNOPROM India”, held for the first time in India (New Delhi) from September 9 to and underscored its importance in further expanding trade and industrial ties.

The two leaders also visited the INNOPROM India exhibition at the Bharat Mandapam and interacted with the participants.

Putin invites PM to Russia

The MEA said Modi and Putin exchanged views on India-Russia engagement in the multilateral sphere, in particular in BRICS under India’s chairship for 2026.

“President Putin invited the Prime Minister to visit Russia for the 24th India-Russia Annual Summit. The Prime Minister accepted the invitation. The dates of the summit will be decided as per mutual convenience through diplomatic channels,” it said.

Ways to boost trade and investment ties dominated the talks, with the Indian side pitching for greater market access for Indian exporters in Russia to address the ballooning trade deficit in Moscow’s favour, it is learnt.

The two sides also delved into expanding their already strong defence cooperation.

Both sides exploring BrahMos missile upgrade

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said on Tuesday that both sides are exploring BrahMos missile upgrades, adding that Moscow remains committed to fulfilling its remaining S-400 system deliveries and discussing the proposed supply of Su-57 fighter jets.

In the energy sector, the two sides reviewed the overall scenario and agreed to further ramp up cooperation in civil nuclear energy.

Expanding industrial cooperation, collaboration in the rail and tunnelling sectors, developing the steel value chain, and broadening access to the Russian market for Indian exporters also figured in the talks.

PM’s gift for Putin

The Prime Minister gave a copy of the Russian translation of Thirukkural, the classical Tamil poem collection authored by legendary poet and philosopher Thiruvalluvar.

Thirukkural, a seminal work by much-revered Thiruvalluvar, contains words of wisdom on multiple subjects.

“Presented President Putin with a Russian translation of the Thirukkural, which carries the eternal wisdom of the great Thiruvalluvar across languages and borders,” Modi posted on X.