Full Breakdown
Putin to Attend BRICS Summit in New Delhi, Bilateral Meeting with Xi Planned
5/19/2026, 10:26:48 PM
Putin’s Confirmed Attendance at the 2026 BRICS Summit
Russian President Vladimir Putin will travel to New Delhi for the BRICS leaders’ summit scheduled for 12–13 September 2026. The confirmation was delivered by Kremlin aide for international affairs Yury Ushakov, who told state-run TASS news agency that Putin will take part in the meeting. The Russian Embassy in South Africa later reposted Ushakov’s statement on the social-media platform X. A bilateral meeting between President Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping is also slated for the summit’s sidelines. The announcement was made on May 19 2026, and the summit will convene heads of state and government from all eleven member countries.
BRICS Expansion and India’s Chairmanship
BRICS was originally formed by Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. In 2024 the bloc expanded to include Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran and the United Arab Emirates; Indonesia joined in 2025, bringing the total membership to eleven emerging economies. India holds the chairmanship for 2026 and will host the summit in its capital. The expanded alliance now represents roughly 49.5 % of the world’s population, about 40 % of global gross domestic product, and around 26 % of worldwide trade.
Official Statements & Responses
Yury Ushakov, speaking to TASS, affirmed that President Putin “will attend the BRICS summit in New Delhi on September 12-13.” The Russian Embassy in South Africa cited the same aide’s social-media post to confirm the itinerary. Earlier in the month, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov attended a two-day BRICS meeting in New Delhi, underscoring Russia’s active participation. Ushakov indicated that the Putin-Xi dialogue will focus on strategic cooperation, global economic issues and regional security developments. India’s role as host has been noted in multiple reports, emphasizing its responsibility for agenda-setting under the current chairmanship.
Verbatim Quote
> “President of Russia Vladimir Putin will attend the BRICS summit in New Delhi on September 12-13.” — Yury Ushakov
Strategic Significance
Putin’s presence signals Moscow’s continued commitment to the BRICS platform amid shifting global alignments. The planned one-on-one dialogue with President Xi is expected to address strategic cooperation, global economic issues and regional security developments, reinforcing the partnership between the two leaders. By convening leaders of eleven nations that together account for nearly half of humanity, 40 % of global output and a quarter of trade, the summit offers a venue for coordinated economic policies and collective geopolitical positioning.
Upcoming Developments
The bilateral meeting between Putin and Xi will occur on the summit’s sidelines. The summit’s agenda includes trade, geopolitical cooperation, and strengthening economic ties among the member nations.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
All sources agree on the dates, participants and agenda items; no contradictory information has been identified.
