NEW DELHI (Reuters) - India said on Friday that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin had agreed to further strengthen the special relationship between their countries in talks that ranged over areas including energy and defense.
The meeting was the second in two weeks between the two leaders. It was held on the eve of the annual summit of BRICS leaders in the Indian capital. 
Modi and Putin “shared perspectives on ... the conflicts in West Asia and the Black Sea region which have impacted maritime trade and the safety and security of Indian seafarers”, a statement from India’s foreign ministry said.
Modi reiterated that conflicts should be resolved by dialogue and diplomacy and that India stood ready to assist in peace efforts, it added.
“The two leaders agreed to remain engaged in an effort to strengthen further the special and privileged strategic partnership between the two countries,” the foreign ministry statement said.
India, along with China, is one of the biggest buyers of Russian oil, which is seen as helping Moscow replenish its budget.
India has sought to resist the pressure to scale back the trade, saying its large population and economy need secure, affordable and reliable energy supplies. 
Russia’s share of Indian crude imports rose in 2026, reaching a record 51% in July, as disruptions to Middle Eastern supplies increased Indian refiners’ reliance on Russian oil. That share likely moderated in August as China stepped up Russian oil purchases, Indian media reported.
The two leaders also visited an India-Russia industrial fair showcasing Russian technology, AI, aviation, space, nuclear science, heavy engineering, mining and banking companies.
India and Russia have said they want to raise bilateral trade to $100 billion by 2030 from nearly $70 billion in 2024-25.