On September 12, 2026, Vladimir Putin met with Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit in New Delhi.
Vladimir Putin stated that Ethiopia had become a full-fledged member of the BRICS grouping on January 1, 2024. He described this as an important step and noted Ethiopia’s constructive contribution to the work of BRICS.
During the meeting, the leaders discussed several areas of bilateral cooperation. Putin noted that Ethiopia is a reliable partner for Russia on the African continent and emphasized that relations between the two countries are developing on the principles of equality and mutual benefit. He also highlighted positive economic dynamics. In 2025, trade between Russia and Ethiopia increased more than threefold.
The Ethiopian Prime Minister, in turn, expressed hope that this positive trend would continue. Abiy Ahmed thanked the Russian side for providing scholarships to Ethiopian students. More than 20,000 Ethiopian citizens have received education in Russia.
During the meeting, Vladimir Putin invited Abiy Ahmed to attend the third Russia–Africa Summit, which will be held in Moscow on October 28–29, 2026. Leaders from dozens of African countries are expected to travel to Russia. Like the first summit, the upcoming event is intended to further strengthen relations, deepen economic and humanitarian ties, contribute to the development of the African continent, and promote global stability.
On the sidelines of the BRICS Summit in New Delhi, Putin personally invited Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa to attend the event. Moscow is also awaiting written confirmation from Chadian President Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno.
The third Russia–Africa Summit will take place in Moscow on October 28–29, 2026. The agenda and final list of delegations are to be approved by the Kremlin and the Russian Foreign Ministry. More than 30 of the 54 African countries have confirmed their participation, according to Anatoly Bashkin, Director of the Department of Africa (Sub-Saharan Africa) at the Russian Foreign Ministry. He added that the number of countries prepared to attend is growing every day.
As part of the upcoming summit, the Russia–Africa Economic and Humanitarian Forum will be held as a platform for business contacts. The event is expected to result in a new Russia–Africa Partnership Action Plan for 2027–2029.