PM Modi and President Putin hold bilateral meeting at BRICS summit

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday raised the impact of the Russia-Ukraine conflict on maritime trade and the safety of Indian seafarers with Russian president Vladimir Putin, reiterating that dialogue and diplomacy remain the way forward to resolve conflicts. The two leaders held an over 45-minute bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the Brics summit in New Delhi, where they reviewed the India-Russia relationship and discussed key regional and global developments.

The ministry of external affairs (MEA) said Modi and Putin "shared perspectives on key regional and global issues of mutual interest, including the conflicts in West Asia and the Black Sea region which have impacted maritime trade and the safety and security of Indian seafarers". "The prime minister once again reiterated that dialogue and diplomacy was the way forward in resolving conflicts and India stood ready to assist in peace efforts," the MEA said.

Five Indian seafarers have died in the Black Sea amid the ongoing Russia-Ukraine hostilities, prompting India to raise the issue with both Moscow and Kyiv. The meeting came as India continued to push for greater economic engagement with Russia amid geopolitical uncertainties. The two sides agreed to work towards raising annual bilateral trade to $100 billion by 2030 from around $65 billion.

Modi said he and Putin discussed closer trade ties, including implementation of the 'Programme for Economic Cooperation 2030', as well as cooperation in infrastructure, energy, technology, defence and culture. Following their talks, Modi and Putin travelled together in the same car inside the Bharat Mandapam complex to attend a business forum.

At the Brics Business Forum, Modi linked secure maritime routes directly to the functioning of global trade. "Global trade can only progress if sea lanes are secure, supply routes remain open, and seafarers are safe. Therefore, India is a staunch supporter of freedom of navigation and the safety of seafarers," he said. Defence cooperation, critical minerals, civil nuclear energy and fertiliser supplies were also discussed during the Modi-Putin meet. The two sides also reviewed industrial cooperation in areas including railways and tunnelling, the steel value chain and expanding access to the Russian market for Indian exporters. The Russian president also invited Modi to visit Russia for the 24th India-Russia Annual Summit. The prime minister accepted the invitation, with the dates to be finalised through diplomatic channels based on mutual convenience.