Russian President Vladimir Putin has described it as “illusory” for anyone to attempt to defeat Russia on the battlefield in its conflict with Ukraine.
The Russian strongman was speaking at the gathering of some world leaders at the BRICS bloc summit in Kazan, Russia.
Putin is using the summit to bolster Russia’s standing geopolitically and dispel the Western notion that the vast EuroAsian country is isolated.
In addition to the founding BRICS nations—Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa—at least 24 other countries, including Egypt, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates, are represented by their heads of state or heads of government.
Nigerian was admitted at the summit as a “partner country.”
“I will say directly that these are illusory calculations that can be made only by those who do not know Russia’s history,” Putin said of American and Western war support for Ukraine.
Shortly before he spoke, Russia’s lower house of parliament voted to ratify a defense pact with North Korea amid reports that Pyongyang has sent thousands of troops to Russia for training and possible deployment in Ukraine.
Chinese President Xi Jinping, an ally of Russia, also spoke during a plenary session, saying the world had “serious challenges,” but the BRICS countries could be a “stabilizing force for peace.“
“We need to continue to push for a ceasefire in Gaza, relaunch the two-state solution, and stop the spread of war in Lebanon. There should be no more suffering and destruction in Palestine and Lebanon,” Xi said.
The Chinese leader refrained from going directly into the situation in Ukraine.
The summit began on Tuesday, October 22, and ended on Thursday, October 24.
As the summit ends today, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres arrived in Kazan early Thursday.
His spokesman, Farhan Haq, said Guterres would use the meeting with Putin to “reaffirm his well-known positions on the war in Ukraine.“
Haq said the UN leader was on standby to offer mediation but was waiting for “the conditions to be right.“
“Obviously, when the parties are willing, he stands ready to offer his services. He will continue to monitor and see when the situation is right.“
But Ukraine, hearing of Guterres’s arrival in Russia, condemned him. Kyiv’s foreign ministry said Ukraine was appalled that Gueterres was willing to meet the “criminal Putin.”
Comment, Like 👍, share this article, and Follow us on our social media handles.
WhatsApp Channel
Telegram Channel
