Russian President Vladimir Putin touched down in New Delhi early Friday morning, September 11, 2026, marking the start of a power-packed three-day visit for the 18th BRICS Summit. The Russian leader was received at the airport by Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh, stepping directly into a high-octane diplomatic itinerary.
Key Engagements and Bilateral Talks
President Putin's schedule includes addressing the plenary session of the annual BRICS Business Forum, a crucial precursor to the economic dialogue among member nations. Later today, attention shifts to a high-stakes bilateral summit with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Following their discussions, both leaders are slated to jointly tour the Innoprom industrial exhibition, an event co-hosted by India and Russia's trade ministries.
Summit Agenda and Global Deliberations
The core proceedings of the BRICS Summit formally open on September 12. Deliberations among BRICS leaders will encompass a wide range of topics, including political security, financial systems, and cultural integration. Critical assessments of pressing global and regional flashpoints are also on the agenda, focusing on key initiatives spearheaded under India's chairship.
The diplomatic momentum will build further into Sunday with an expanded summit session, bringing together member nations, partner states, and international organizations for broader discussions.
Diplomatic Sidelines
On the sidelines of the main summit, President Putin is scheduled to engage in a series of diplomatic meetings with global counterparts. These include South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi. While no formal, full-format meeting has been confirmed between Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping, a pull-aside exchange between the two leaders on the summit margins remains virtually certain.
India is hosting the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi from September 12-13, 2026, welcoming leaders and senior representatives from BRICS member countries, partner nations, regional organizations, and major international institutions.