Putin arrives in India for Brics summit set to be dominated by Iran and Ukraine wars - The Guardian

**New Delhi, September 11 — ** Russian President Vladimir Putin landed in India on Monday aboard the state‑owned Ilyushin‑Il‑96 “Flying Kremlin,” a specially outfitted aircraft equipped with radar‑jamming systems and a luxury suite designed for extended diplomatic travel. The president’s convoy included an Aurus Senat limousine— a bullet‑proof, blast‑resistant vehicle that has become a hallmark of Russian heads of state when traveling abroad. The high‑security motorcade moved through Delhi’s streets under tight police coordination, underscoring the heightened threat environment surrounding the upcoming BRICS summit.

The BRICS gathering, now in its 15th edition, is being convened in New Delhi against a backdrop of two major geopolitical flashpoints: Iran’s escalating regional tensions and the protracted war in Ukraine. Organisers expect the agenda to be heavily shaped by these conflicts, with member states pressing for coordinated stances on sanctions, energy security and pathways to a negotiated settlement in Ukraine. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, hosting the summit, has signaled that discussions will also pivot to expanding intra‑BRICS trade, deepening energy cooperation, and exploring a collective diplomatic push for peace in Kyiv.

Over the three‑day visit, Putin is slated for a “diplomatic sprint,” meeting fifteen bilateral counterparts, including Chinese President Xi Jinping, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Dehghan, and Iranian‑born Indian Minister of Foreign Affairs Zahra Pezeshkian. In his scheduled talks with Modi, the leaders are expected to explore joint infrastructure projects, secure supply chains for oil and gas, and assess coordinated measures that could influence the Ukraine peace process. The intensive schedule reflects New Delhi’s aim to position itself as a central forum for dialogue among emerging economies while managing the delicate balance of competing interests within the BRICS bloc.