Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin are set to hold a bilateral meeting in New Delhi on Friday, September 11, on the sidelines of the 18th BRICS Summit, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said on Tuesday.
Speaking during a virtual briefing from Moscow, Peskov confirmed that the two leaders would hold another bilateral meeting during Putin’s visit to India.
“We’re looking forward to the President and Prime Minister having another bilateral meeting during the visit. It is scheduled. It is scheduled for Friday,” Peskov said, adding that the leaders would begin with the bilateral agenda.
The meeting is expected to draw particular attention to defence cooperation, as Peskov said the possible sale of Russia’s Su-57 fighter aircraft to India would be among the issues on the agenda.
Su-57 sale, trade talks likely to feature
Peskov said discussions would cover the proposed sale of Su-57 aircraft to India, along with trade and economic cooperation.
India has not officially commented on the Kremlin spokesperson’s remarks so far.
The possible Su-57 deal could add a major defence dimension to the upcoming Modi-Putin talks, amid the longstanding strategic partnership between India and Russia.
Peskov also criticised the United States’ proposed move to impose 100% tariffs on countries purchasing Russian crude oil, calling the proposed action “illegal and unacceptable”.
BRICS Summit in New Delhi
The 18th BRICS Summit is scheduled to take place at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi on September 12 and 13.
India assumed the BRICS presidency on January 1, 2026, marking the country’s fourth time leading the grouping.
The 11-member core BRICS group comprises Brazil, China, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Iran, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa and the United Arab Emirates. Indonesia became a full member in 2025.
The wider BRICS framework also includes 10 partner countries — Belarus, Bolivia, Cuba, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Nigeria, Thailand, Uganda, Uzbekistan and Vietnam.
Who is expected to attend?
Modi will host the summit, while Putin has confirmed his participation. Chinese President Xi Jinping is also expected to attend.
If Xi visits India, it would mark his first trip to the country since his informal meeting with Modi in Mamallapuram in 2019.
Other leaders expected at the summit include South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul.
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres is also expected to attend.
Modi and Putin’s latest meeting
Modi and Putin most recently met on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.
It was their first face-to-face meeting since the annual India-Russia Summit in New Delhi last December.
During their latest meeting, Modi reiterated India’s position on the Russia-Ukraine war and stressed the need for a peaceful resolution.
“Every day spent perpetuating war pushes humanity backwards, and every step taken towards peace fills the whole of humanity with new hope and enthusiasm,” Modi said in his televised opening remarks.
He also said India supported efforts towards peace and would continue to do so, noting that the Ukraine conflict had featured in his discussions with Putin at every meeting.
The upcoming September 11 bilateral is therefore expected to combine the longstanding India-Russia strategic partnership with discussions on defence, trade, economic cooperation and wider global developments.
