New Delhi: Russia has officially confirmed that President Vladimir Putin is set to travel to India next week. The announcement came from Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov during a virtual session with Indian journalists held from Moscow on Tuesday. Peskov said Putin will take part in the 18th BRICS Summit, scheduled to be held at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi on September 12 and 13. According to him, the visit gives both countries an opportunity to discuss matters tied to their bilateral relationship, and he also wished India success in hosting the gathering.
Putin and Modi to Hold a Separate One-on-One on September 11
Peskov further revealed that ahead of the BRICS gathering, Putin will hold a separate bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday, September 11. Speaking during the Moscow briefing, Peskov remarked on the rapport between the two leaderships, saying, "Our leaders are in very close personal contact and are candid enough to discuss even the most sensitive issues openly." He added that this closeness keeps opening new avenues for cooperation between the two nations.
The Kremlin spokesperson also expressed confidence about the summit's outcome, stating, "We have no doubt that the summit will be a success." Peskov noted that Russia, for its part, is working to strengthen the three main pillars of BRICS cooperation, namely policy and security, economy and finance, and cultural and humanitarian ties. He also said Russia backs the idea of bringing new countries into the various formats of BRICS.
Why the Bharat Mandapam Summit Carries Extra Weight
This edition of the summit holds particular significance for India because the country took over the BRICS presidency on January 1 this year, marking the fourth time it has led the grouping. Adding to the occasion, 2026 also marks two decades since BRICS was founded, making this gathering of major emerging-market and developing economies especially notable.
The Journey from BRIC to BRICS
The bloc began as a four-nation alliance called 'BRIC', comprising Brazil, Russia, India and China. Foreign ministers from these countries held their first meeting in 2006 on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. Three years later, in 2009, the group convened its first formal summit in the Russian city of Yekaterinburg. South Africa then joined in 2011, after which the bloc was renamed 'BRICS', the name it still carries today.
The Two Leaders Already Met in Bishkek
This will not be the first time Modi and Putin have crossed paths recently. The two leaders had already met on August 31 in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, on the sidelines of the SCO summit. Within just about two weeks of that meeting, the two leaders will now come face to face again, this time on Indian soil, underlining the steadily growing contact between the two countries.
