New Delhi, Sept 11: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday held wide-ranging bilateral talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi, reviewing cooperation in defence, energy, trade and other key sectors. The two leaders exchanged views on key regional and global developments, including the conflicts in West Asia and the Black Sea region, which have affected maritime trade and the safety and security of Indian seafarers.

Modi reiterated that India stood ready to assist peace efforts. The meeting came amid efforts by New Delhi and Moscow to further expand their economic partnership, with the two sides looking to enhance annual bilateral trade to USD 100 billion by 2030.

According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Modi and Putin reviewed progress in bilateral cooperation across political, economic, defence, energy, space, skill mobility and people-to-people sectors. “The leaders exchanged views on India-Russia engagement in the multilateral sphere, in particular in BRICS under India’s Chairship for 2026,” the MEA said.

“They also 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. 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,” it added.

Ahead of the talks, sources had indicated that expanding industrial cooperation, collaboration in railways and tunnelling, developing the steel value chain, widening access to the Russian market for Indian exporters and increasing mobility of Indian skilled workers were among the issues expected to figure in discussions. The two sides were also expected to deliberate on strengthening cooperation in civil nuclear energy, including fuel-cycle and life-cycle support, besides exploring greater cooperation in critical minerals.

Defence cooperation also remained a key area of engagement. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov had said earlier that both sides were exploring BrahMos missile upgrades, while Russia remained committed to completing the remaining deliveries of the S-400 air defence system and discussing the proposed supply of Su-57 fighter jets.

The Ukraine conflict and efforts towards a roadmap for peace were also expected to feature prominently in the broader discussions. Modi and Putin had last met on the sidelines of the SCO Summit in Bishkek on August 31, where the Prime Minister had reiterated his call for dialogue and diplomacy.