Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin are set to hold a bilateral meeting on Friday, a day before the BRICS Summit begins. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed that the two leaders will meet to discuss several areas of bilateral cooperation.
The meeting comes at an important time as India continues to maintain close ties with Russia while also pushing for diplomatic efforts to end the war in Ukraine.
The BRICS Summit will take place on Saturday and Sunday. Several prominent leaders are expected to attend the gathering, including Chinese President Xi Jinping, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian.
Second Modi Putin Meeting in Weeks
The upcoming talks will be the second meeting between Modi and Putin within a few weeks. The two leaders last met on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, last month. During that meeting, Modi urged Putin to bring an end to what he described as the "endless" war in Ukraine.
India has repeatedly called for dialogue and diplomacy to resolve the conflict. New Delhi has also maintained that lasting peace can only be achieved through discussions between the parties involved.
Security and Technology Cooperation on Agenda
According to Peskov, the Modi-Putin meeting will cover several areas of cooperation. The discussions are expected to focus on development-related issues as well as cooperation in security, counterterrorism, tackling drugs and space exploration.
Defence cooperation is also likely to receive attention during the talks. Peskov said Russia is prepared to discuss India's interest in purchasing the Su-57 fighter aircraft.
He also indicated that Moscow could discuss India's demand for technology transfer related to the advanced fighter jet. The issue could become an important part of the defence discussions between the two countries.
Putin to Meet Major BRICS Leaders
Putin is expected to meet several world leaders during the BRICS Summit. Chinese President Xi Jinping, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian will be among the key participants.
The summit will provide leaders with an opportunity to discuss economic cooperation, global political developments and other international issues. Peskov said BRICS has grown significantly in recent years. He described the grouping as a bloc rather than simply an organisation.
He also spoke about India's BRICS presidency and said cooperation among member countries is built on mutual trust, mutual respect and mutual benefit.
Peskov Says Unipolar System Is Losing Strength
Peskov also highlighted what he described as a major shift in the global political and economic order. "These ideas are being shared by many. The unipolar system is collapsing and losing its competitiveness. The unipolar system is trying to gain power by injuring global economy and politics. We know that the global majority presented in Brics is willing to have a different composition where every country is equal to another," said Peskov.
His remarks underline Russia's view that the global system is moving away from a single dominant power structure. Moscow has also argued for a greater role for emerging economies and developing countries in international decision-making.
Jaishankar's Recent Russia and Ukraine Visits
The Modi-Putin meeting and the BRICS Summit come shortly after External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar's visits to Ukraine and Russia. During his diplomatic engagements, Jaishankar discussed efforts to find a possible path towards ending the conflict in Ukraine.
Without revealing specific details, Jaishankar said that "what we are trying to do is to see if there are ideas and suggestions which can be developed in some way in which they will contribute to the mitigation, ideally, the cessation of the conflict".
He also stressed India's willingness to contribute to peace efforts. Jaishankar said India remains ready to provide "any help in any manner" to help bring the war to an end.
The timing of the Modi-Putin meeting therefore carries significance. India is maintaining its strategic relationship with Russia while continuing to advocate dialogue, diplomacy and efforts aimed at reducing tensions surrounding the Ukraine conflict.