New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a 45-minute bilateral meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in New Delhi on Friday, a day before the BRICS Summit.
The talks are expected to have focused on strengthening India-Russia ties, with trade, energy and defence among the key areas of discussion.
Russia remains one of India’s major crude oil suppliers. India’s Russian oil imports declined in August, but the country continued to purchase around two million barrels of crude per day, according to recent trade data.
The two leaders are also expected to discuss efforts to expand bilateral trade to $100 billion by 2030. Trade between India and Russia reached nearly $70 billion in the 2024–25 financial year.
Defence cooperation is another major area of interest, with discussions potentially covering Russia’s Su-57 fifth-generation fighter aircraft and broader military cooperation.
The meeting may also address civil nuclear cooperation, critical minerals and long-term energy security, as India and Russia seek to deepen their strategic partnership.
The bilateral meeting comes ahead of the BRICS Summit, where Modi and Putin are expected to engage with other leaders on major regional and global issues.