Russian President Vladimir Putin met Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for a high-level bilateral meeting in New Delhi during his three-day official visit to India to attend the 18th BRICS Summit. Indian news outlet NDTV confirmed that the high-voltage meeting, held on Friday (September 11, 2026), covered extensive discussions on strengthening joint cooperation across politics, the economy, defense, energy, space research, and bilateral trade expansion.
This marks the second formal meeting between Modi and Putin in 2026. The two leaders previously met on August 31 at the 26th Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit held in Bishkek.
During the talks, both leaders expressed deep concern over ongoing military conflicts in the Middle East and rising tensions in the Black Sea region. Prime Minister Modi specifically highlighted how the Black Sea conflict has disrupted international maritime trade and jeopardized the safety of Indian seafarers working in the area. Firmly reiterating India’s stance, Modi told President Putin that “dialogue and diplomacy remain the only way forward” to resolve conflicts.
As a gesture of diplomatic goodwill at the start of the meeting, Prime Minister Modi presented President Putin with a Russian translation of Tirukkural, the legendary literary work by Tamil poet and philosopher Thiruvalluvar, which delves into agriculture, ethics, and rural life. Following their bilateral discussions, both leaders traveled together in the same vehicle to their next engagement—marking the third time the two world leaders have shared a car ride.
