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Modi and Putin hold trade and defense talks in New Delhi
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Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin held talks in New Delhi on September 11, 2026, focusing on trade, energy, and defense cooperation. The meeting, their second within two weeks, occurred ahead of the annual BRICS leaders' summit in India's capital, which will include Chinese President Xi Jinping and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian. An Indian source indicated discussions would cover bilateral cooperation in civilian nuclear energy, fertilizers, defense, critical minerals, manufacturing, railways, and steel. The leaders previously met at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit on August 31, where Modi told Putin the war in Ukraine must end for humanity's sake and that India would support peaceful efforts. India, like China, is a major buyer of Russian oil, helping Moscow replenish its budget amid Western sanctions. India has resisted pressure to halt such trade, arguing its large population requires secure, affordable energy and that the Ukraine conflict can only be resolved through dialogue. Russia's share of India's crude oil imports reached a record 51% in July 2026, though it may have declined in August as China increased purchases. Putin last visited India in December 2025 for the annual summit, where both countries agreed to expand trade and defense ties.
Source report
NEW DELHI, Sept 11 (Reuters) – Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin began talks in New Delhi on Friday, marking their second meeting within two weeks. Discussions are expected to focus on trade, energy, and defense cooperation within the long-standing friendly relationship between the two countries.
The talks took place ahead of the annual BRICS leaders' summit, hosted in India's capital. The summit will be attended by Chinese President Xi Jinping and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, among others.
Key Discussion Areas
An Indian source indicated that Modi and Putin are expected to discuss bilateral cooperation in the following areas:
- Civilian nuclear energy
- Fertilizers
- Defense
- Critical minerals
- Manufacturing
- Railways
- Steel
Recent Diplomatic Context
The two leaders previously met during the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, on August 31. At that meeting, Modi told Putin that the war in Ukraine must end for the sake of humanity, and that New Delhi would support all peaceful efforts to stop the fighting.
Energy and Trade Dynamics
Like China, India is one of the largest buyers of Russian oil. This trend is seen as helping Moscow replenish its budget after Russia faced sweeping Western sanctions following its deployment of tens of thousands of troops to Ukraine in 2022.
India has sought to resist pressure, stating that its large population and economy require secure, affordable, and reliable energy supplies. New Delhi has also maintained that the conflict in Ukraine can only be resolved through dialogue and diplomacy, not by certain countries halting their trade in Russian energy, metals, or fertilizers.
Russia's share of India's crude oil imports rose in 2026, reaching a record high of 51% in July, as disruptions in Middle Eastern supply increased Indian refiners' reliance on Russian oil. According to Indian media reports, this share may have declined in August as China ramped up its purchases of Russian crude.
Previous Engagement
Putin also visited India in December 2025 for the annual India-Russia summit, where the two countries agreed to expand their trade and defense ties.
Source: Reuters
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