Verdict: The 25-second clip of Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping cooking together circulated after the BRICS summit in New Delhi but was filmed in Vladivostok in September 2018. Reverse-image checks link the footage to a CGTN upload and AFP photos from the Eastern Economic Forum. The video was reused with false captions claiming it was recorded at the 2026 BRICS meetings.
Fact Check: Viral Clip of Putin and Xi Cooking Is From 2018, Not the 2026 BRICS Summit
Screenshot of the false Facebook post taken on September 17 with red Xs added by AFP
A short, widely shared video showing Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping cooking together was mislabelled as footage from the 18th BRICS summit in New Delhi (Sept 12–13, 2026). The 25-second clip actually dates back to September 2018 and was filmed in Vladivostok during the Eastern Economic Forum.
Screenshot comparison of the falsely shared video (L) and the CGTN video from September 2018
What Was Shared
The clip, posted to Facebook on September 13, 2026 with a Hindi caption claiming the leaders "enjoyed cooking and dining together in India," was viewed more than one million times and re-posted across platforms including Instagram and X. The footage shows both leaders wearing blue aprons, flipping pancakes and sharing a meal at an outdoor stall.
How It Was Verified
A reverse-image search using still frames from the viral clip located a China Global Television Network (CGTN) YouTube upload dated September 13, 2018, titled "Xi and Putin make pancakes on sidelines of Eastern Economic Forum." AFP also circulated photos showing the two leaders at an exhibition called "Far East Street" in Vladivostok on September 11, 2018, where they flipped traditional Russian blini. Together these sources confirm the footage predates the New Delhi summit by eight years.
Context Around The BRICS Summit
The clip resurfaced just after the 18th BRICS meeting in New Delhi, where leaders discussed "inclusive global growth" and issued a joint statement urging "maximum restraint" in the Middle East conflict. Diplomatic context at the summit included India deepening energy ties with Russia amid pressures caused by the US–Iran war, and Xi Jinping's closely watched visit to India—the first since 2019. Reports also noted Xi did not attend a gala dinner hosted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Takeaway
Although the video shows a friendly moment between Putin and Xi, it was filmed in Vladivostok in 2018, not at the 2026 BRICS summit in New Delhi. This case highlights how old footage can be relabelled and spread widely during major events. When encountering viral clips, check reverse-image searches, original broadcaster uploads, and reputable fact-checking outlets before sharing.
Verified sources: CGTN video (Sept 13, 2018) and AFP photos from the Eastern Economic Forum, Vladivostok, Sept 2018.
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