Putin lands in India for BRICs summit, shadowed by Iran and Ukraine wars - aljazeera.com

**Putin lands in India for BRICS summit, shadowed by Iran and Ukraine wars**

Moscow’s President Vladimir Putin touched down in New Delhi on Tuesday, marking the start of a three‑day diplomatic sprint ahead of the BRICS leaders’ summit scheduled for the capital later this week. The visit comes amid heightened international tensions, with Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine and its backing of Iran’s regional ambitions casting a long shadow over the gathering of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. Indian officials emphasized that the summit will focus on “co‑operation for shared development,” while also acknowledging the geopolitical realities that bind the bloc’s members together.

Within hours of his arrival, Putin was set to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi for a bilateral session that will run parallel to the multilateral talks. Sources close to the negotiations say the agenda will centre on expanding trade ties, deepening energy cooperation—particularly in LNG and nuclear projects—and exploring avenues for a diplomatic resolution to the Ukraine conflict. The two leaders have cultivated a discreet channel of communication over the past years, a private rapport that analysts say could facilitate candid dialogue on sensitive issues such as sanctions relief and regional security.

The BRICS meeting in Delhi is slated to host a total of fifteen bilateral engagements involving leaders from the bloc and other strategic partners, including Chinese President Xi Jinping, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Pezeshkian and a host of regional dignitaries. Observers note that the packed schedule reflects India’s ambition to position itself as a diplomatic hub in a shifting global order. While the summit is expected to produce joint statements on economic collaboration and reform of international financial institutions, the lingering shadows of the Ukraine war and Iran’s regional posture will likely test the cohesion of the group and shape the narrative of emerging multipolarity.