Russian President Vladimir Putin has described BRICS as a key driver of global economic growth as the group’s 18th summit enters its second and final day in New Delhi.
Addressing the BRICS Outreach/BRICS+ session on Sunday, Putin said international interest in the group “continues to grow,” arguing that its commitment to an “independent and autonomous course” and international law appeals to countries around the world. He also said BRICS accounts for 49% of global GDP growth and that its potential for further development is “far from exhausted.”
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, speaking at the same session, said the trust of Global South nations in BRICS has grown because “their voices are heard, their experiences are respected and solutions are crafted not just for them, but with them.”
Modi also announced that members had reached a consensus on a BRICS Integrated Early Warning System for preventing and responding to infectious diseases, as well as guidelines for integrating early-warning data in disaster management.
The expanded session brings together the leaders of BRICS member and partner countries, as well as outreach invitees and representatives of international organizations, with discussions focused on resilience, innovation, cooperation and inclusive global growth. Further bilateral meetings are also possible on the sidelines.
On Saturday, BRICS leaders unanimously adopted the New Delhi Declaration, which calls for the reform of global institutions to give emerging markets and developing countries greater representation and condemns unilateral economic measures that violate international law. The document also calls for “maximum restraint” in the Middle East and stresses that dialogue and diplomacy are the only appropriate means of resolving international disputes.
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13 September 2026
Russian President Vladimir Putin has concluded his three-day visit to India, during which he held talks with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and took part in the 18th BRICS summit. Footage from New Delhi has captured Putin getting out of his Aurus limousine and waving goodbye before boarding the presidential plane.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping and other leaders have posed for a ‘family photo’ at the BRICS summit in New Delhi.
Trade between Russia and India has increased sevenfold over the past five years, Russian Economic Development Minister Maksim Reshetnikov told RT India on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit in New Delhi. “In the last five years, our trade turnover has increased by seven times. Last year, it reached $59 billion,” he said, adding that there is “great potential for further growth.”
Reshetnikov said Russian energy supplies account for a significant part of bilateral trade, while Indian exports to Russia are also expanding. “Now it is not only tea,” he said, pointing to food, pharmaceuticals and industrial goods. Moscow and New Delhi are also “now conducting negotiations” on a free-trade agreement, the minister added.
Indian companies are working on trial shipments via Russia’s Northern Sea Route, Economic Development Minister Maksim Reshetnikov told RT India on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit in New Delhi.
The Arctic passage can significantly cut journey times compared with the Suez Canal on some routes, he said, describing it as “much safer than many others” at a time when maritime communications have become increasingly vulnerable.
Reshetnikov also invited Indian companies to invest in Russia’s Far East and Arctic, which he said hold major reserves of oil, gas, coal, copper, silver and rare-earth metals. “We will be glad to see Indian companies among investors in the Far East region, in the Arctic region,” he said.
Watch Russian President Vladimir Putin’s full speech at the BRICS+ session in New Delhi:
During their contacts with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of the BRICS summit, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping “actively offered” him their assistance in facilitating the settlement of the Ukraine conflict, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has said.
Modi and Xi have expressed “a keen interest” in finding a solution to the crisis, he told journalists.
“Putin welcomed this willingness and provided detailed information on the situation” on the ground to the Indian and the Chinese leaders, Peskov stressed.
Chinese President Xi Jinping has departed India after his participation in the BRICS summit in New Delhi. “China and India should be partners, not rivals,” Xi said during his first visit to the country in seven years.
The foreign ministers of Russia, China and Iran – Sergey Lavrov, Wang Yi and Abbas Araghchi – share a friendly chat on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit in New Delhi, in a video released by the Iranian Foreign Ministry.
Putin said BRICS provides the “main impetus” for global GDP growth, accounting for 49%.
“The potential for further development of BRICS is far from exhausted,” Putin said, describing the “complementarity of the economies of the member countries” as one of the group’s main untapped resources.
”Differences in their structure and specialization provide broad opportunities for practical cooperation,” he added.
The head of the World Health Organization, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, who is also attending the BRICS summit, has said that he appreciates the “strong support” for WHO by the bloc’s leader and their commitment to promoting universal medical coverage and creating resilient health systems in their countries.
International interest in BRICS “continues to grow,” Russian President Vladimir Putin has said, pointing to the broad participation in the BRICS+ session in New Delhi.
“For many around the world, our fundamental values and ideals are attractive,” Putin said, citing a commitment to pursuing an “independent and autonomous course” and a desire for “collective solutions to problems based on international law and the key provisions of the UN Charter.”
Putin said BRICS+ meetings provide an opportunity for “direct and open dialogue” between the group’s full members, partner countries and other states and multilateral organizations interested in cooperation.
Modi said that the strength of BRICS lies in its “diversity and cooperation.”
“We may be rooted in different realities, but together we rise through cooperation and blossom for humanity. May our diversity remain our identity, our cooperation serve as our inspiration, and our progress benefit all of humanity,” he said.
According to Modi, the trust of the Global South nations in BRICS has grown in recent years because “their voices are heard, their experiences are respected and solutions are crafted not just for them, but with them.”
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called on BRICS countries to strengthen their ability to respond to emerging crises, warning that growing global tensions and disruptions increasingly affect ordinary people.
Speaking at the BRICS+ session in New Delhi on Sunday, Modi pointed to pandemics, climate disasters and supply-chain disruptions, arguing that in an interconnected world, crises are no longer confined to individual regions.
“We have placed special emphasis on enhancing resilience within the BRICS group,” Modi said. “It is equally essential to identify challenges in a timely manner, remain prepared for them, and take immediate action.”
He announced that members had reached consensus on a “BRICS Integrated Early Warning System” for preventing and responding to infectious diseases and had formulated “Early Warning Data Integration Guidelines” for disaster management.
The Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, confirmed the UAE’s willingness to host talks on settling the Ukraine conflict during his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit in New Delhi on Saturday, Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov has said.
He added that it would be “quite acceptable” to Moscow, for the Gulf nation to serve as a venue for peace negotiations.
US envoy Steve Witkoff said progress had been made toward scheduling another three-way meeting between Russia, Ukraine and the US following his and Jared Kushner’s visits to Moscow and Kiev last week. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov later said Moscow hopes the trilateral talks will resume “in the foreseeable future,” while noting that no concrete plans for the next meeting have yet been agreed upon.
Russian President Vladimir Putin is addressing leaders and representatives from BRICS member and partner countries at an expanded BRICS+ session on the final day of the bloc’s summit in New Delhi.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has arrived for the expanded BRICS+ session in New Delhi on the second and final day of the bloc’s summit.
Leaders of ten BRICS partner countries are joining the bloc’s full members for the meeting.