Russia’s Putin welcomes world leaders for three-day BRICS summit

President Putin hosts leaders including Xi and Modi astatine acme of bloc of processing economies.

China’s Xi Jinping, India’s Narendra Modi and different planetary leaders person arrived 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 what immoderate spot arsenic the Western wide order.

For Russian President Vladimir Putin, the three-day gathering that got nether mode connected Tuesday besides offers a almighty mode to show the nonaccomplishment of United States-led efforts to isolate Russia connected the planetary signifier implicit its 2022 penetration of 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.

BRICS – which initially comprised Brazil, Russia, India, China and aboriginal 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 different countries person expressed involvement successful joining.

Observers spot the BRICS acme arsenic portion of the Kremlin’s efforts to showcase enactment for it connected the planetary signifier amid spiralling tensions with the West and to 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 debar Western sanctions and commercialized with its partners.

Putin is acceptable to clasp astir 20 bilateral meetings connected the sidelines of the summit, including Tuesday’s encounters with Chinese President Xi, Indian Prime Minister Modi and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa.

Putin meets chap BRICS leaders

Xi told Putin determination was a “profound friendship” betwixt their 2 countries.

“The satellite is undergoing profound changes unseen successful a century, and the planetary concern is chaotic and intertwined,” Xi said.

China and Russia “have continuously deepened and expanded broad strategical coordination and applicable cooperation”, helium added.

Ties person “injected beardown impetus into the development, revitalisation and modernisation of the 2 countries”, the Chinese person said.

They person “made important contributions to upholding planetary equity and justice”, helium added.

Xi and Putin announced a “no-limits” concern weeks earlier Russia invaded Ukraine successful 2022. They had met astatine slightest 2 different times this year, successful Beijing successful May and astatine a Shanghai Cooperation Organisation acme successful Kazakhstan successful July.

Russian President Vladimir Putin meets with Chinese President Xi Jinping connected the sidelines of the BRICS acme successful Kazan, Russia [Alexander Zemlianichenko/Reuters]

Russia’s practice with India has besides flourished arsenic New Delhi considers Moscow a time-tested spouse since the Cold War epoch contempt Russia’s adjacent ties with Indian 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 emphasising a peaceful settlement.

Modi, who past visited Russia successful July, said this sojourn reflects the adjacent relationship betwixt the countries. Speaking astatine the commencement of his gathering with Putin, helium besides reaffirmed New Delhi’s propulsion for bid successful Ukraine.

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

Ramaphosa, who has besides urged an extremity to the conflict, praised Moscow arsenic a “valued ally” and person successful his gathering with Putin.

“We proceed to spot Russia arsenic a valued ally, arsenic a valued friend, who supported america close from the beginning: from the days of our conflict against apartheid, close done to now,” Ramaphosa said.

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 criticised Russia’s actions successful Ukraine.