Russian President Vladimir Putin departed from New Delhi on Sunday, 13 September 2026, concluding his visit to India after attending the 18th BRICS Summit hosted at Bharat Mandapam. The two-day summit brought together leaders from BRICS member and partner countries, along with outreach invitees, marking a significant moment in India's multilateral diplomacy.

Farewell at Delhi Airport

Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh saw off President Putin at Delhi airport. In a post on X, Singh wrote: 'Honoured to see off H.E. President Vladimir Putin at Delhi airport following his visit to India for the BRICS Summit. India deeply values its Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership with Russia and remains committed to further advancing our multifaceted cooperation.'

Putin's Address at the BRICS Session

Addressing the 18th BRICS Summit session on Saturday, Putin underscored that partnership within BRICS is built on 'principles of equality, good neighbourliness and mutual consideration of interests, while respecting the cultural and civilisational diversity, history, traditions and values of its members.' He argued that this foundation explains why BRICS's authority and influence in the world continue to grow steadily.

'The Association has rightfully established itself among the key centres of global governance, and the prospects for developments in international politics and security, economics, and humanitarian cooperation largely depend on our collective decisions and actions,' Putin said.

Speaking on the session themed 'Inclusive Global Governance and Strengthening Multilateralism', Putin called for greater collective action in a multipolar world. 'In the conditions of an emerging multipolar world, it is more important than ever to work together to strengthen the true world order multilateralism,' he noted.

Modi-Putin Bilateral Talks

Putin arrived in New Delhi on Friday and held bilateral talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the summit. The two leaders reviewed progress in bilateral cooperation spanning political, economic, defence, energy, space, skill mobility and people-to-people domains, according to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).

Discussions also covered the ongoing conflicts in West Asia and the Black Sea region. In a gesture of cultural diplomacy, Prime Minister Modi gifted Putin the Russian translation of the Thirukkural — the classical Tamil text by philosopher-poet Thiruvalluvar — which contains extensive writings on agriculture and farmers.

INNOPROM India and Trade Ties

Both leaders welcomed Russia's International Industrial Exhibition 'INNOPROM India', held for the first time in India from 9–11 September 2026. The MEA stated that the two leaders visited the exhibition and interacted with participants, underscoring its importance in expanding trade and industrial cooperation. This marks a notable deepening of bilateral economic engagement beyond traditional energy and defence sectors.

Significance of the Visit

The visit comes at a time when India's engagement with Russia has drawn close global attention, particularly as Western nations continue to pressure New Delhi over its ties with Moscow amid the ongoing conflict in Europe. India's hosting of the BRICS Summit signals its intent to remain a key voice in shaping a multipolar global order. As BRICS expands its membership and influence, the outcomes of this summit are expected to shape multilateral economic and security frameworks in the months ahead.