New Delhi: Echoing Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s stand on BRICS, Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday underlined that the group is not anti-Western but rather non-Western. He said this ahead of the BRICS Summit that is to take place in Kazan from October 22-24.
Putin said that BRICS was never meant to be against anyone. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also said that BRICS is not an anti-Western group but a non-Western group,” the Russian president pointed out, according to an ANI report. He added that the group will drive much of global economic growth in the coming years due to its size and faster growth compared to Western nations.
“BRICS does not counterpose itself to anyone. It is a group of nations that works in concert, have shared values and shared goals of development and consider each other’s interests. This will be the basis of our working cause,” said Putin.
Putin expresses gratitude to PM Modi
Expressing his gratitude to PM Modi for consistently raising concerns about the Ukraine conflict, Putin said, “While talking with PM Modi, each time he raises this matter and expresses his considerations. We are thankful to him for that.”
“Russia is interested the resolving it (the war) by peaceful means. It was not us who stopped the negotiations but it was the Ukrainian side,” he added.
PM Modi recently visited the Ukrainian capital Kyiv, and had a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, while reiterating India’s commitment to back a peaceful resolution to the ongoing war.
This year, Russia holds the presidency of BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa). After being invited by Putin, PM Modi will visit Russia from October 22-23 to attend the BRICS Summit.
A total of 15 BRICS summits have taken place till now. This year, BRICS has expanded to include Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran and the United Arab Emirates.
