Russia aims to use the upcoming BRICS summit to highlight the growing influence of the non-Western world, but Moscow’s partners from China, India, Brazil, and the Arab world are pressing President Vladimir Putin to find a solution to the war in Ukraine.
The BRICS bloc, now representing 45% of the global population and 35% of the world’s economy based on purchasing power parity, has become a significant force, with China contributing more than half of its economic power.
Putin, whom the West views as a war criminal, addressed BRICS reporters, stating that “BRICS does not position itself in opposition to anyone,” and emphasized that the shift in global economic power was an undeniable fact. “This is a group of nations that collaborate based on shared values, a common vision of development, and, most importantly, respect for each other’s interests,” he said.
The summit comes at a critical moment as global financial leaders gather in Washington amid the backdrop of the Middle East conflict, the ongoing war in Ukraine, concerns over China’s economy, and the potential for new trade conflicts as the U.S. presidential election looms.
Putin, who launched the invasion of Ukraine in 2022 after eight years of conflict in eastern Ukraine, faced numerous questions from BRICS journalists regarding a potential ceasefire. His response was clear: Russia will not relinquish control over the four regions of eastern Ukraine it claims as its own, even though parts remain contested. He also stressed that Russia’s long-term security interests in Europe must be addressed.
Although there is growing talk in Moscow of a possible ceasefire, two Russian sources indicated that no concrete plans have emerged, and the global community is awaiting the outcome of the U.S. presidential election on November 5.
Currently, Russia controls about one-fifth of Ukraine, including Crimea, which it annexed in 2014, about 80% of the Donbas region, and over 70% of the Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions. Putin said that the West has come to accept Russia’s eventual victory but expressed willingness to resume talks based on draft ceasefire agreements from Istanbul in April 2022.
On the eve of the BRICS summit, Putin held informal talks with UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who has been involved in mediation efforts related to Ukraine. Putin also commended both Sheikh Mohammed and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, though the latter will not attend the summit in Kazan.
“I assure you that we will continue to work towards peace and resolution,” Sheikh Mohammed told Putin, emphasizing the UAE’s readiness to contribute to ending the crisis.
Chinese President Xi Jinping and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will attend the summit, but Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva canceled his trip due to health issues following a minor brain hemorrhage.
The BRICS acronym, first coined in 2001 by former Goldman Sachs economist Jim O’Neill, highlighted the economic potential of Brazil, Russia, India, and China. Over time, the group expanded to include South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, and the UAE, with Saudi Arabia expected to join soon.
BRICS’ share of global GDP is projected to rise to 37% by 2030, while the G7’s share is expected to decline to 28%, according to the International Monetary Fund.
Russia hopes to persuade BRICS countries to create an alternative international payment platform that would be resistant to Western sanctions. However, internal divisions within BRICS remain. China and India, both major buyers of Russian oil, have strained relations, and tensions persist between Arab nations and Iran.
I am an experienced writer, analyst, and author. My exposure in English journalism spans more than 28 years. In the past, I have been working with daily The Muslim (Lahore Bureau), daily Business Recorder (Lahore/Islamabad Bureaus), Daily Times, Islamabad, daily The Nation (Lahore and Karachi). With daily The Nation, I have served as Resident Editor, Karachi. Since 2009, I have been working as a Freelance Writer/Editor for American organizations.
