A hug, a handshake, and a copy of the Thirukkural: inside PM Modi and Putin’s Delhi meeting

PM Modi gifted Putin a Russian translation of the Tamil classic Thirukkural during their meeting

September 11, 2026

PM Modi and Putin discuss trade, energy and defence as Delhi prepares to host a BRICS summit shadowed by the Ukraine and West Asia conflicts

Second PM Modi-Putin meeting in two weeks. Here’s what’s really on the table this time

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin began their bilateral meeting in New Delhi on Friday, a day ahead of the 18th BRICS Summit, marking the second meeting between the two leaders in as many weeks. Putin landed early Friday for a three-day visit, his first overseas BRICS summit appearance since the Ukraine conflict began in 2022, and was received at the airport by Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh.

What’s On The Table

The talks are expected to cover civil nuclear cooperation, spanning the fuel cycle and life-cycle support, along with expanding opportunities for skilled Indian workers in Russia. Critical minerals and the fertiliser sector are also likely to feature, with both sides looking at strategic joint ventures. Trade, energy security, defence co-production, cross-border payments and settlement in domestic currencies round out an agenda aimed at pushing bilateral trade toward $100 billion by 2030.

Presented President Putin with a Russian translation of the Thirukkural, which carries the eternal wisdom of the great Thiruvalluvar across languages and borders. pic.twitter.com/rvk3rRDnvg
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) September 11, 2026

Before the bilateral, Putin addressed the plenary session of the BRICS Business Forum, a curtain-raiser for economic dialogue among member nations.

A Warm Welcome, A Personal Gift

Modi greeted Putin with a handshake and a hug, and gifted him a Russian translation of the ancient Tamil classic Thirukkural. Russian aide Yuri Ushakov said Moscow places high value on the personal rapport the two leaders have built over the years.

#WATCH | Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin hold a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of BRICS Summit 2026.
(Video Source: DD News) pic.twitter.com/KhlCIatMI2
— ANI (@ANI) September 11, 2026

The Bigger Picture

The meeting comes on the eve of a summit set to be dominated by two ongoing conflicts — Russia-Ukraine and the wider West Asia crisis — with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian also arriving in Delhi and expected to hold his own talks with Putin. Chinese President Xi Jinping is attending as well, though no formal Putin-Xi bilateral has been locked in beyond a likely pull-aside on the sidelines.

Modi marked the occasion with a Sanskrit social media message welcoming leaders to the 11-nation summit, while dozens of Tibetan exiles protested elsewhere in Delhi against Xi’s visit. The 18th BRICS Summit formally opens September 12 at Bharat Mandapam, coinciding with the bloc’s 20th anniversary.

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