On Monday, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss the strong friendship between their two countries. They talked about growing their business ties, sharing their cultures, and the urgent need for peace in the world.
Growing Business and Student Exchanges
President Putin started by thanking India for its focus on keeping a good relationship with Russia. He shared some positive numbers:
Trade: Buying and selling between the two countries went up by 2.6% in the first half of 2026.
Students: There are now about 40,000 Indian students studying in Russia, which is seven times more than in recent years.
Travel: Tourism between India and Russia has grown by 16%.
To celebrate their long history together, the two leaders also agreed to hold special cultural festivals in 2027.
A Call for Peace
Prime Minister Modi called President Putin a friend and said he was happy with how fast their teams were working to improve business ties.
A big part of PM Modi’s speech was about the ongoing war in Ukraine. He made it very clear that India supports peace. Modi explained that every day of war holds the world back, while every step toward peace gives people hope.
Reminding everyone that India is the land of Gandhi and Buddha, Modi said the world must move away from “endless war” and work towards the “end of war.” He promised that India will always support efforts to solve problems peacefully.
Looking Forward to the BRICS Summit
At the end of the meeting, PM Modi invited President Putin to the upcoming BRICS Summit, which will happen in New Delhi this September. Modi said that the people of India are very excited to welcome him and his team. Both leaders agreed that working together at global meetings like BRICS, the G20, and the UN helps make their partnership even stronger.