Putin hosts BRICS summit meant to counterbalance Western clout

KAZAN, Russia — 

China's Xi Jinping, India's Narendra Modi and different satellite leaders arrived Tuesday successful the Russian metropolis of Kazan for a acme of the BRICS bloc of processing economies that the Kremlin hopes to crook into a rallying constituent for defying Western power successful planetary affairs.

For Russian President Vladimir Putin, the three-day gathering besides offers a almighty mode to show the nonaccomplishment of U.S.-led efforts to isolate Russia implicit its actions successful Ukraine.

Kremlin overseas affairs advisor Yuri Ushakov touted the acme arsenic "the largest overseas argumentation lawsuit ever held" by Russia, with 36 countries attending and much than 20 of them represented by heads of state.

The confederation that initially comprised Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa has expanded rapidly to clasp Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia. Turkey, Azerbaijan and Malaysia person formally applied to go members, and a fewer others person expressed involvement successful joining.

Observers spot the BRICS acme arsenic portion of the Kremlin's efforts to showcase enactment from the Global South amid spiraling tensions with the West and assistance grow economical and fiscal ties.

Proposed projects see the instauration of a caller outgo strategy that would connection an alternate to the planetary slope messaging web SWIFT and let Moscow to dodge Western sanctions and commercialized with partners.

Putin, who volition clasp astir 20 bilateral meetings connected the acme sidelines, met with Modi and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and was scheduled to confer with Xi aboriginal successful the day.

The acme underlined the adjacent narration betwixt Xi and Putin, who announced a "no-limits" concern weeks earlier Russia invaded Ukraine successful 2022. They already person met astatine slightest doubly this year, successful Beijing successful May and astatine a Shanghai Cooperation Organization acme successful Kazakhstan successful July.

Russia's practice with India has besides flourished arsenic New Delhi considers Moscow a time-tested spouse since Cold War times contempt Russia's adjacent ties with India's main rival, China.

Western allies privation India to beryllium much progressive successful persuading Moscow to extremity the warfare successful Ukraine, but Modi has avoided condemning Russia portion emphasizing a peaceful settlement.

"We judge that problems should beryllium resolved peacefully, and we afloat enactment the quickest constitution of bid and stability," said Modi, who past visited Russia successful July.

Putin hailed what helium described arsenic a "privileged strategical partnership" betwixt Russia and India.

During a gathering with Ramaphosa, the Russian president emphasized their shared striving for a "fair, multi-polar planetary order" and specifically mentioned efforts by BRICS members to make a "new autarkic outgo system."

On Thursday, Putin is besides acceptable to conscionable with United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, who volition beryllium making his archetypal sojourn to Russia successful much than 2 years. Guterres has repeatedly criticized Russia's actions successful Ukraine.