The war against Ukraine has isolated Russian President Putin internationally. Now he wants to show that he does have many allies.
Two and a half years after his order to attack Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin is hosting allied and neutral states at the summit of the so-called Brics group. 24 foreign heads of state and government are expected in Kazan, capital of the Muslim republic of Tatarstan on the Volga, by Thursday. The abbreviation Brics stands for the first letters of the first five members of the group of emerging industrial nations: Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.
The most important guest in Kazan is Chinese head of state Xi Jinping, with whom Putin will speak bilaterally on Tuesday. According to Putin’s advisor Yuri Ushakov, 36 countries are represented. Ushakov announced that Ukraine would also be a topic in the Kremlin chief’s talks with guests such as UN Secretary General António Guterres.
Meanwhile, Western countries are trying to provide further aid for Ukraine, which is being attacked by Russia. During a visit to Kiev, US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin pledged military aid worth $400 million (almost 370 million euros). Britain confirmed its share of a $50 billion loan to Ukraine to be backed by interest income from frozen Russian assets. The seven large western industrialized countries USA, Canada, Great Britain, Italy, Japan, France and Germany (G7) approved the loan in June.
Putin sees Brics as a counterweight to the G7
Putin wants to stand up to the G7 states in particular with the Brics group. He sees the group of states as an opportunity to break US dominance in international politics and build a new multipolar world order. After the founding members, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Ethiopia and Iran have now joined the confederation. NATO member Türkiye wants to take part in Kazan as an interested party.
At the summit, Russia hopes to primarily advance financial cooperation. Putin said before the summit that it was about an alternative to the Western system of financial data exchange Swift and about building a common bank. However, not all Brics members follow the Kremlin leader’s anti-Western course. Countries like India and Brazil maintain foreign policy and economic cooperation in many directions.
Brics states with their own roles in the Ukraine war
Hardly any of the countries represented have condemned the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine. Iran even supports Russia militarily, and China provides Russia with backing and access to weapons-grade technology. At the same time, Brics members China, Brazil and South Africa have each made their own proposals for an end to the fighting in Ukraine. None of these, however, deviate far from the Russian position; for Kyiv the proposals are entirely unacceptable. The United Arab Emirates has repeatedly mediated prisoner exchanges between Russia and Ukraine behind the scenes.
The summit in Kazan, which has been spruced up for this purpose, is taking place under enormous security precautions. Parts of the city are cordoned off for the conference. In order to clear the streets during the summit days, children were sent on extended holidays and many employees were sent to work from home.
USA arms Ukraine with $400 million
US Defense Secretary Austin met with President Volodymyr Zelensky and Defense Minister Rustem Umyerov in the Ukrainian capital. “I traveled to Ukraine for the fourth time as Secretary of Defense to show that the United States, together with the international community, continues to stand with Ukraine,” Austin wrote on the platform X. Putin’s war threatens European security, said he in Kiev.
According to the US Department of Defense, the new package includes ammunition for Himars rocket launcher systems, artillery ammunition and mortar shells. In addition, additional armored personnel carriers, small arms and associated cartridges would be made available. From a military and financial perspective, the USA has been the Eastern European country’s most important supporter since the war began in February 2022.
More than two billion pounds from London for Kyiv
Britain is planning a loan of 2.26 billion pounds (around 2.71 billion euros) for Ukraine, the British news agency PA reports. It should be financed with profits from frozen Russian assets. This is the British contribution to the 50 billion loan package agreed upon by the G7. The money could be used for anti-aircraft systems, artillery and other military equipment. Finance Minister Rachel Reeves promised Ukraine her country’s unwavering support.
Zelensky calls on soldiers to hold out in Kursk
Zelenskyj called on his soldiers to hold out on the captured bridgehead in the Kursk region of Russia. Contrary to many reports that Russian troops were pushing the Ukrainians back there, Zelensky said in a video message: “We are holding our position, and I thank every soldier for their bravery.” He discussed the situation with Commander-in-Chief Olexander Syrskyj and Chief of General Staff Anatoly Barhylevych.
“We must not forget that the Kursk operation serves a strategic purpose. The war must return to the area from which it started,” Zelensky said. With the surprising advance at the beginning of August, Ukraine brought the ground war into Russian territory for the first time.
Source: Stern
I have been working in the news industry for over 6 years, first as a reporter and now as an editor. I have covered politics extensively, and my work has appeared in major newspapers and online news outlets around the world. In addition to my writing, I also contribute regularly to 24 Hours World.
