Putin departs from New Delhi. (ANI)

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Sunday departed New Delhi after attending the two-day Brics Summit hosted by India.During his visit, Putin participated in two Brics sessions and visited the Bharat Innovates exhibition at Bharat Mandapam. He also addressed the Leaders’ Session of the Brics Business Forum, where he criticised Western nations for using trade and diplomatic pressure as instruments of state-level interference.Putin said Russia had been subjected to more than 30,000 sanctions, which he claimed was more than twice the number imposed on all other countries combined.“More than 30,000 sanctions have been slapped on Russia, which is twice as much as the number of all sanctions against all other countries of the world combined,” the Russian President said, ANI reported.Modi, Putin discuss closer trade tiesPrime Minister Narendra Modi and Putin also held a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the summit. They discussed closer trade ties, including the implementation of the Programme for Economic Cooperation 2030.The two leaders also reviewed cooperation in infrastructure, energy, technology, defence and culture.“Delighted to meet President Putin in Delhi, less than two weeks after our meeting in Bishkek. During today's meeting, we talked about closer trade ties, including implementation of the Programme for Economic Cooperation 2030. Cooperation in areas like infrastructure, energy, technology, defence, culture and more. India's efforts during our Brics Presidency aimed at furthering the welfare of our planet,” PM Modi said in a post on X.

The two leaders had earlier met on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Bishkek on August 31.According to the ministry of external affairs, PM Modi and Putin also exchanged views on key regional and global issues, including the conflicts in West Asia and the Black Sea region.The conflicts have affected maritime trade and raised concerns over the safety and security of Indian seafarers. PM Modi reiterated that dialogue and diplomacy remained the way forward to resolve conflicts and said India was ready to assist in peace efforts.Chinese President Xi Jinping and Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali also departed from New Delhi earlier on Sunday.