New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin met in New Delhi on Friday ahead of the BRICS summit, with the two leaders agreeing to further strengthen the special and privileged strategic partnership between India and Russia.

The meeting covered several key areas, including energy and defence. The two leaders also discussed the impact of conflicts in West Asia and the Black Sea region on maritime trade and the safety and security of Indian seafarers.

Prime Minister Modi reiterated India’s position that conflicts should be resolved through dialogue and diplomacy. He also said that India was ready to contribute to peace efforts.

Energy ties remained an important part of the broader India-Russia relationship. According to Reuters, Russia accounted for 51% of India’s crude oil imports in July 2026, as disruptions in Middle Eastern supplies increased India’s dependence on Russian oil.

During the meeting, Modi gifted Putin a Russian translation of the Thirukkural, the revered classical Tamil text containing 1,330 couplets on virtue, governance and love.

The two leaders also visited an India-Russia industrial fair showcasing Russian technology and companies from sectors including artificial intelligence, aviation, space, nuclear science, heavy engineering, mining and banking.

India and Russia have set a target of increasing bilateral trade to $100 billion by 2030, from nearly $70 billion in 2024-25.

The meeting was the second between Modi and Putin in two weeks and took place on the eve of the annual BRICS leaders’ summit in New Delhi.