Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in New Delhi on Friday, September 11, 2026, ahead of the 18th BRICS Summit being hosted by India. Putin’s three-day visit comes at a significant time for India-Russia relations, with the Russian president scheduled to hold bilateral discussions with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and participate in the BRICS leaders’ meeting in the national capital.
Putin arrived at Palam Air Force Station in New Delhi, where he was received by Union Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh. His visit will run from September 11 to 13 and includes high-level engagements focused on strengthening the India-Russia strategic partnership. The Russian president is expected to meet Prime Minister Modi on Friday for wide-ranging bilateral discussions.
The Modi-Putin meeting is expected to cover several areas of mutual interest, including defence cooperation, trade, investment, energy, nuclear cooperation, space, technology and industrial collaboration. Both sides are also looking to expand economic engagement, with India and Russia working towards increasing bilateral trade and strengthening access for Indian products in the Russian market.
The visit comes shortly after Modi and Putin met on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Bishkek on August 31. During that meeting, the two leaders reviewed cooperation in defence, energy, space, mobility and other sectors and discussed India’s priorities as the BRICS chair for 2026. The leaders had also agreed to continue efforts to strengthen the Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership between the two countries.
Putin’s visit is closely linked to India’s hosting of the 18th BRICS Summit, scheduled for September 12 and 13 at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi. India is chairing BRICS this year under the theme “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability.” The expanded grouping is expected to discuss economic cooperation, global governance, energy security, technology, development and other international issues.
The summit is taking place against the backdrop of conflicts in Ukraine and West Asia, along with wider economic and geopolitical challenges. India has maintained its emphasis on dialogue and diplomacy while continuing engagement with Russia and other major international partners. These developments are expected to form part of the broader diplomatic environment surrounding the summit.
Putin’s India visit also comes amid preparations for further industrial and economic cooperation between the two countries. During his stay, he is scheduled to participate in engagements connected with INNOPROM India 2026, which is being held at Bharat Mandapam to promote manufacturing, technology, investment and business cooperation between India and Russia.
The arrival of the Russian president marks the beginning of a series of high-level engagements in New Delhi as global leaders gather for the BRICS summit. Putin’s bilateral meeting with Modi is expected to provide an opportunity for both countries to review ongoing strategic cooperation and discuss new areas of partnership amid a rapidly changing global geopolitical environment.