Putin and Modi to discuss energy, defence and rare-earth cooperation ahead of BRICS summit

Vladimir Putin is scheduled to hold a bilateral meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday, marking his first foreign trip since the war in Ukraine began. The agenda focuses on deepening energy ties, with Russia noting that India’s imports of Russian oil have reached new monthly records, and on expanding defence cooperation, including discussions about delivering Su-57 stealth fighters and the 2026 delivery of S-400 air-defence systems.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov emphasized that India’s stance on the Ukraine conflict aligns closely with Moscow’s, favouring a peaceful resolution. Both governments are also exploring joint projects in the rare-earth sector. The meeting comes as India prepares to host the BRICS summit on Sept 12-13, an event likely to be attended by Chinese President Xi Jinping, who may hold a separate bilateral talk with Modi. The discussions occur against a backdrop of U.S. plans to impose 100 % tariffs on Russian oil, which Russia has condemned as illegal.