Putin faces grilling on Ukraine at BRICS summit
During the BRICS summit in Kazan, Russian President Vladimir Putin faced an uncomfortable question about the invasion of Ukraine. BBC journalist Steve Rosenberg asked how Russia's actions align with BRICS principles of justice, stability, and security. A recording of Putin's reaction was posted online.
25 October 2024 13:53
Vladimir Putin hosted leaders from 36 countries, including China and Turkey, in Kazan for three days. In his speeches, he criticised the West for "perverse methods" of maintaining global dominance, accusing it of hindering the development of emerging economies and manipulating financial markets. His words were met with approval from summit participants.
However, for the aforementioned West, the "icing on the cake" might be the question posed by the BBC journalist to the Russian leader at the very end, which clearly enraged him.
How does this align with BRICS principles?
At the end of the press conference concluding the BRICS summit in Kazan, Steve Rosenberg had the opportunity to ask a question. As he wrote on platform X, it was "first opportunity to ask Vladimir Putin a question since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine."
- What does that have in common with your actions over the last two-and-a-half years, with the Russian invasion of Ukraine? Where are fairness, stability, and security here, including Russia's security? - Rosenberg asked.
The journalist asks, Putin responds
Upon hearing these words, Vladimir Putin reacted sharply, accusing the West of ignoring Russian concerns about NATO's eastward expansion.
- In fact they always tried to put us in our place. And from this place Russia would have end up being reduced to the status of a second-class state - Putin replied. Also noteworthy were the expressions of the journalists present, as they listened to Putin.
When Rosenberg brought up reports from the British MI5 about the activities of Russian agents in the UK, Putin dismissed these allegations as "complete nonsense".
"The West wants to isolate Russia"
According to reports from the "Daily Mail," the conflict in Ukraine was frequently discussed during the summit, highlighting the failure of the West's efforts to isolate Russia.
The event also featured, which caused a stir and wave of criticism, UN Secretary-General António Guterres, who called for a "just peace" in Ukraine in accordance with the UN Charter and international law.
Putin accused the West of implementing "illegal unilateral sanctions" and "perverse methods" leading to new conflicts and exacerbating old disputes.
