Russian President Vladimir Putin touched down in New Delhi on Monday for the BRICS summit, signaling Moscow's continued commitment to multilateral engagement despite nearly four years of conflict in Ukraine. The visit is being closely watched by global observers as it represents Putin's first time attending a BRICS gathering in person outside Russian territory since February 2022, when the full-scale invasion of Ukraine reshaped the geopolitical landscape.
Upon arrival, the Russian president was received by senior Indian officials at the airport before proceeding to the summit venue. Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and other top diplomats were present at the welcome ceremony, underscoring the diplomatic weight India attaches to the occasion.
The schedule outlines a packed calendar for Putin's stay, anchored by bilateral talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. While the specifics of those discussions have not been fully disclosed, sources indicate that the two leaders are expected to cover a range of bilateral issues including defence cooperation, energy ties, and trade arrangements, alongside broader regional and global concerns.
In addition to the Modi meeting, Putin is set to hold a series of bilateral consultations with leaders from across the BRICS grouping — Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, along with newly expanded members. These side meetings are typically where much of the substantive diplomacy occurs at summits of this nature.
India has long maintained a delicate balancing act between its historical strategic partnership with Russia and its growing ties with Western nations. The BRICS platform has served as a key forum for New Delhi to engage with Moscow independently of Western pressure over the Ukraine conflict. Russian-Indian trade, particularly in energy and defence equipment, has continued to expand even as global markets realigned after the invasion.
The summit itself is seen as an important opportunity for BRICS members to chart a collective direction for the bloc, which underwent significant expansion in recent years and now includes countries from across the Global South. How the group presents a unified front — or reveals internal divisions — on issues ranging from the Ukraine war to economic cooperation will likely draw intense scrutiny from capitals around the world.
