BRICS Summit 2026: PM Modi holds talks with Putin; what Russian President said about G7?
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi again indirectly hinted Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday to end the conflict in Ukraine, reiterating that dialogue and diplomacy is the way forward, as the two leaders assessed progress in economic, defence and energy cooperation and mobility of workers.
PM Modi reiterated that dialogue and diplomacy was the way forward in resolving conflicts and India stood ready to assist in peace efforts.The two leaders also visited the INNOPROM India exhibition and interacted with the participants.
Modi and Putin met for the second time in less than a fortnight on the sidelines of the Brics Summit in New Delhi – they last held talks on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Summit in Bishkek on August 31 – and reviewed bilateral ties and exchanged notes on global and regional issues.
PM Modi “again reiterated that dialogue and diplomacy was the way forward in resolving conflicts and India stood ready to assist in peace efforts”, the external affairs ministry said in a statement on the meeting held at Bharat Mandapam, the venue for the Brics Summit.
Among the regional and global issues that figured in their talks were the “conflicts in West Asia and the Black Sea region which have impacted maritime trade and the safety and security of Indian seafarers”, the readout said.
The leaders also 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 two leaders agreed to remain engaged in an effort to strengthen further the Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership between the two countries, which continues to register significant growth and has shown resilience in the backdrop of geopolitical uncertainties.
Ahead of the meeting, Modi presented Putin with a Russian translation of the ancient Tamil classic Thirukkural.
Putin takes swipe at G7 economies
Putin took a swipe at the Group of Seven (G7) on Friday, contrasting its declining share of the global economy with BRICS’ growing economic weight.
Addressing the BRICS Business Summit 2026 in New Delhi, Putin said G7 countries accounted for about 18% of global economic output, compared with nearly 40% for BRICS members.
“I don’t know why they call them that,” Putin remarked, questioning the grouping’s continued relevance.
Russia was a member of what was then the G8 until it was expelled following its annexation of Crimea in 2014. The grouping subsequently reverted to the G7.
Putin described BRICS as the world’s largest economic bloc and said its members were gaining strength and influence as the global order changed.
Highlighting India’s growing contribution to the global economy, Putin said the world was undergoing a major economic shift. He added that BRICS remained open to cooperation with countries outside the grouping. The Russian president also accused Western nations of repeatedly trying to undermine BRICS countries.
PM accepts Putin’s Moscow summit invitation
President Putin invited Prime Minister to visit Russia for the 24th India-Russia Annual Summit. Prime Minister accepted the invitation. The dates of the Summit will be decided as per mutual convenience through diplomatic channels.
The invitation comes as New Delhi and Moscow continue to deepen their long-standing strategic partnership across economic, defence and energy sectors.
The annual summit is the highest-level institutional mechanism between India and Russia and is held alternately in the two countries.