India plans to establish new civil nuclear reactors :::: Putin arrives in Delhi for BRICS Summit, set for bilateral talks with PM Modi at 3.30 PM :::: Meeting is expected to focus on strengthening cooperation in defence and energy

The PM Modi-Putin talks come at a critical juncture, with India and Russia seeking to deepen their strategic partnership while navigating the Ukraine war, global energy disruptions and shifting geopolitical alignments.  

Importantly, it will be Putin's first in-person participation at a BRICS summit outside Russia since the war in Ukraine began in  2022.

Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in New Delhi on Friday for a three-day visit to India, where he will participate in the 18th BRICS Summit and hold wide-ranging bilateral talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The two sides are keen to  expand cooperation in trade, investment and energy.

The Ukraine conflict and efforts towards a peace settlement are expected to feature prominently in their talks on Friday, amid renewed efforts, including by the Trump administration in the US, to find a way to resolve the war.

PM Modi and Putin had previously met on the sidelines of the SCO summit in Bishkek last week. During that meeting, PM Modi called for an immediate end to the Ukraine conflict and urged Putin to move from an “endless war towards the end of war”.

Putin, who was accompanied by a high-level delegation, arrived at Palam Air Force Station and was received by Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh.  

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov has that Russia and India were also exploring upgrades to BrahMos missiles. 

Moscow remains committed to completing the remaining deliveries of the S-400 air defence systems and is discussing a proposed supply of Su-57 fighter jets, he said.

Peskov also said energy cooperation between the two countries remained robust and that Moscow and New Delhi were looking at negotiations over India’s plans to establish new civil nuclear reactors.

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