India to host BRICS summit in September, Foreign Ministers to meet in May — Russian MFA

Coverage Comparison

Indian and Russian sources have reported that India, as the current BRICS chair, has sent invitations to all member states for both the BRICS Foreign Ministers' meeting in May and the 18th BRICS Summit in September. The Russian Foreign Ministry confirmed these dates, with spokeswoman Maria Zakharova stating that the summit is set for September and that the foreign ministers' meeting in May will provide an opportunity for an in-depth discussion on the international agenda and the global role of BRICS.

According to The Hindu, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Rudenko Andrey Yurevich said in Colombo on April 1 that President Vladimir Putin is expected to participate in the September summit, and that Moscow has received an invitation from Prime Minister Modi. He added that Russia would support New Delhi's efforts to forge consensus among members, and that there are currently no obstacles to Putin's participation, though he noted the "volatile situation" in West Asia as a factor to watch.

Zakharova, as reported by TASS, emphasized that Moscow has never doubted New Delhi's commitment to advancing cooperation within BRICS. She highlighted that while member states may hold differing positions on specific issues, they are united on the relevance of the association and the importance of preserving its foundations—consensus, mutual respect, consideration of each other's interests, and continuity.

Key Claims

The most widely confirmed facts, appearing in both the Russian state news agency TASS and The Hindu, include the scheduling of the BRICS summit in September and the foreign ministers' meeting in May. Both sources also agree that India has extended invitations to all member states for these events.

A claim carried by The Hindu, and not independently verified by other sources in this coverage, is that President Putin is expected to participate in the summit. Rudenko is quoted as saying that "my President has an invitation from the Prime Minister Modi to come to New Delhi," and that "we don't see any problems which would prevent him from doing so." However, he also cautioned that "we need to see what will happen by the time of the summit itself."

Another claim from The Hindu, not yet independently confirmed, is that Russia will honour all existing oil contracts, following a decision to ban gasoline exports effective April 1, 2026. Rudenko attributed this move to price fluctuations and the volatile situation in West Asia.

Zakharova, speaking at a briefing in Moscow on March 25, stated her confidence that "through joint efforts, we will reach the upcoming BRICS summit in September with tangible achievements." This quote, reported by TASS, frames the upcoming meetings as an opportunity for cooperation, and also includes a statement that the foreign ministers' meeting will allow for discussions on the international agenda, the global role of BRICS, and prospects for joint action.

Perspectives

Russian officials, as reflected in TASS and The Hindu, emphasize the importance of BRICS as a flexible organisation that brings together countries with different policies and priorities. Zakharova's remarks stress that the grouping's stability rests on fundamental principles that are "non-negotiable." Rudenko, in his comments from Colombo, described BRICS as "quite a flexible organisation," while acknowledging that member states' national policies "sometimes differ radically."

The Hindu's reporting highlights the geopolitical context, particularly the "volatile situation" in West Asia and its impact on energy markets, which Russia cites as a reason for its export ban and its assurances on existing oil contracts. The report also notes that Russia has pledged support to Sri Lanka in coping with energy crises stemming from the conflict in West Asia, indicating broader regional engagement.

Both sources portray India as taking an active role in attempting to streamline differences within the 10-nation grouping, which includes nations with varying interests. Rudenko commended India, as BRICS chair, for "doing its best to streamline differences," suggesting that consensus-building remains a key challenge.