Headline: BRICS Leaders Summit: Deliberating on Ukraine and Expansion
In a significant meeting today in the city of Kazan, Russia, leaders of the BRICS countries, including Chinese President Xi Jinping and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, held discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and the potential expansion of the BRICS group. These discussions occur as BRICS, representing 45% of the global population and 35% of the world's economy, considers the inclusion of new members amid concerns about maintaining its geopolitical purpose and economic influence.
Addressing the summit, President Putin emphasized the great interest of countries from the Global South and East in strengthening their ties with BRICS. He stated that any expansion should be balanced so as not to diminish the group's effectiveness and mentioned that the summit would address "acute regional conflicts," referring to situations in the Middle East and Ukraine.
The BRICS summit coincides with meetings of global financial leaders in Washington, amid worries over the war in Ukraine, a slowing Chinese economy, and potential new trade disputes stemming from the U.S. presidential elections. China and India serve as major purchasers of Russian oil, a crucial source of foreign currency for Moscow, with the two countries acquiring about 90% of Russia's oil exports.
The acronym BRICS was first proposed in 2001 by Goldman Sachs' Jim O’Neill to highlight the growth potential of Brazil, Russia, India, and China. Since then, the group has expanded to include additional countries and is considering further expansion. More than 20 leaders are present at the summit, including President Xi, Prime Minister Modi, UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian.
Yuri Ushakov, Putin's foreign policy adviser, mentioned that 13 countries have been identified for potential inclusion in BRICS, and discussions will take place to assess their readiness for membership.
During the summit, the war in Ukraine remained a critical topic. Prime Minister Modi publicly expressed to President Putin his desire for peace in Ukraine, while President Xi discussed the matter privately with Putin. Russia currently controls a significant portion of Ukraine, including about 80% of Crimea and the Donbas region, as well as most of the Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions.
Despite the war, the BRICS communiqué is expected to reference proposals by China and Brazil to end the conflict. Both countries are seeking support for a ceasefire at the United Nations, although Ukraine criticizes this move as aligning with Moscow's interests. President Putin stated that the China-Brazil proposals could form the basis of peace efforts. The final communiqué is likely to reflect the group's stance on the proposals and the ongoing war.