Russian President Vladimir Putin reacts during a press conference at the BRICS summit in Kazan, Russia on October 24, 2024. Photo Credit: BRICS-RUSSIA2024.RU
Russian President Vladimir Putin railed against “illusory” efforts to defeat Russia on the battlefield ahead of his first meeting with UN chief Antonio Guterres in more than two years to focus on the conflict in Ukraine on Thursday (Oct 24 , 2024) warned.
Mr Putin was speaking in the Russian city of Kazan on the final day of the BRICS summit, which Moscow hopes will help build a united front of emerging economies against the West.
Mr Putin said Russia’s adversaries “do not hide their aim to inflict a strategic defeat on our country”.
“I will say directly that these are misleading calculations, which can only be made by those who do not know the history of Russia.”
Shortly before he spoke, the lower house of Russia’s parliament voted to approve a defense pact with North Korea amid reports that Pyongyang has sent thousands of troops to Russia for training and possible deployment to Ukraine .
At the meeting, Chinese President Xi Jinping also warned about “serious challenges” in the world and said he hoped the BRICS countries could become a “stable force for peace.”
Xi said, “We must continue to push for a ceasefire in Gaza, resume the two-state solution, and stop the spread of war in Lebanon. There must be no more suffering and destruction in Palestine and Lebanon.”
While listening to Guterres, Iranian President Massoud Pezeshkian criticized the role of the UN Security Council, saying international bodies “lack the necessary competence to put out the fire of this crisis”.
Mr Putin said the Middle East was “on the brink of full-scale war”.
Mr Putin has faced calls from his BRICS allies to end the Ukraine conflict, which began when Moscow launched a full-scale military operation in February 2022.
published – October 25, 2024 04:50 AM IST