Putin slams BRICS nations of 'thoughtless and selfish actions' of certain states that hurt global economy

Russian President Vladimir Putin said the need for the BRICS nations to work jointly to build a multipolar world has become crucial as never before, as he slammed the "thoughtless and selfish actions" of certain states that has hurt the global economy, in an apparent reference to the US and its Western allies. In his address to the 14th BRICS summit via video link, Putin also pointed out that the five countries – Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa – can effectively work together to ensure international stability and security, sustainable growth and prosperity and the well-being of their people.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi along with Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa took part in the annual summit hosted by Chinese President Xi Jinping. "We have repeatedly said that only together we can solve such problems as conflict resolution, combating terrorism, organised crime, including the criminal use of new technologies, combating climate change, and the spread of dangerous infections, Putin stressed.

The Russian president said that the West's selfish attempts to blame the entire world for its own mistakes in macroeconomics led to a crisis which can be surmounted only with honest and mutually beneficial cooperation. "Only on the basis of honest and mutually beneficial cooperation it is possible to seek the way out of this crisis situation that has shaped in the global economy due to the thoughtless and selfish actions of certain states who, using financial mechanisms, essentially shift the blame for their own mistakes in the macroeconomic policy to the entire world, he emphasised.

Putin ordered a "special military operation" against Ukraine on February 24. The US-led Western nations have imposed crippling sanctions on Russia for its invasion of Ukraine. Putin said that now, like never before, the leadership of BRICS countries is needed in order to develop a unifying positive policy for the shaping of a truly multipolar system of intergovernmental relations based on the universally recognised norms of international law and the key principles of the UN Charter.

"I will emphasise: Russia is ready to continue developing close multifaceted interaction with all the partners in the union and contribute to the enhancement of its role in international affairs, he added. "We are certain that the leadership of the BRICS countries in formulating a unifying and positive course towards building a truly multi-polar system of interstate relations, based on the universally recognized norms of international law and key principles of the UN Charter is crucial as never before, Putin said.

He noted that the BRICS countries are deepening cooperation on the entire range of issues on the global and regional agenda. "And every year the authority of the BRICS and its influence on the global stage is steadily increasing, he added.