Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov announced on Tuesday that Russian President Vladimir Putin would visit India to attend the annual BRICS summit later this year. The two-day summit is scheduled for September 12 and 13 in New Delhi.
This will be Putin’s second trip to India in less than a year. He had previously visited New Delhi in December last year to attend the 23rd India-Russia Annual Summit with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
India hosted the BRICS Foreign Ministers’ Meeting earlier this month in New Delhi, with Russia’s Foreign Affairs Minister Sergey Lavrov representing the Putin government.
Brazil held the previous annual BRICS Summit in Rio de Janeiro in July 2025 under the theme “Strengthening Global South Cooperation for a More Inclusive and Sustainable Governance”.
Putin is expected to share the stage with top leaders from the core BRICS nations, including Brazil, India, China, and South Africa, and new member states, consisting of Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.
New Delhi’s diplomatic relationship with Moscow has remained strong despite global tensions and international scrutiny on Russia’s operations in Ukraine.
India relies on Russia for a substantial portion of military equipment, including frontline systems such as the S-400 Triumf air defence system, Sukhoi fighter jets, and the jointly developed BrahMos missile system. Despite sanctions on Russia due to the invasion on Ukraine, India has increased imports of discounted crude oil. This has allowed the country to protect itself from global energy price spikes, stabilise domestic fuel prices, and manage inflation.
New Delhi’s ties with Moscow have also given it a geopolitical advantage as the veto-equipped member has consistently supported India on various sensitive subjects at the United Nations Security Council. The growing partnership between both nations also ensure that Russia’s relationship with its closest ally, China, does not harm Indian interests.
