Russia-India BRICS summit...Putin meets with leaders of member states in succession

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met in Kazan, Tatarstan, Russia, where the BRICS summit was held on the 22nd local time for bilateral talks.

"The relationship between Russia and India continues to develop actively in the nature of a special strategic partnership," Putin said at the meeting.

"We have been in constant contact with Russia about the conflict between Ukraine and Russia," Modi said, adding, "This issue must only be resolved peacefully, and we fully support all efforts for a quick restoration of peace and stability."

PM Modi also visited Russia in July to discuss Ukraine, and in August he visited Ukraine to try to mediate peace.

Putin will hold a series of bilateral meetings with the leaders of BRICS members, starting with PM Modi.

The RIA Novosti news agency said Putin will meet with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi on the same day and invite the heads of state to attend the summit to host an informal dinner.

On the 23rd and 24th, he will also meet with the heads of state and heads of major international organizations, including Iranian President Masud Pejeshikyan, Turkiye President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres, and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.

Putin is using the BRICS summit as an opportunity to break away from the image of being isolated from the international community due to Western sanctions after Ukraine's "special military operation."

The BRICS was created as a group of emerging economies including Brazil, Russia, India and China, before being taxed by South Africa's joining in 2011 and Egypt, Iran, the United Arab Emirates and Ethiopia's approval last year.

Thirty-six countries and six international organizations will participate in the summit, and 22 of the participating countries will be attended by the head of state in person.

The full-fledged summit will be held on the 23rd.