Just days before the BRICS Summit in his country, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Friday that the grouping is not anti-West but "non-West", crediting Prime Minister Narendra Modi for this observation.
At an interaction with a selective group of foreign journalists here, he slammed the US and western nations for backing Ukraine in the war with Russia. He asserted that their military alliance NATO was fighting the war for Ukraine.
Asked by PTI whether he saw a role for India in negotiating peace between Russia and Ukraine, he referred to the concern expressed by the Indian prime minister, whom he described as a "friend". He said Russia was "grateful" for this. Putin said it was difficult to specify a timeline for ending the war in Ukraine, and setting one will be also be "counterproductive".
He accused the United States of trying to stem development in China. "It's like telling the sun not to rise," he said. Modi will visit Russia on October 22-23 to attend the 16th BRICS Summit in Kazan. Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa were the initial members of the grouping.
Putin said the doors of BRICS were not closed to new members, and as the grouping develops even the non-member countries will benefit economically. According to the Russian leader, what sets this group apart from others is that BRICS was never meant to be against anybody.
"The Indian prime minister put it aptly. Of late, he has said that it is not an anti-Western group, it's just a non-Western group," he said. Responding to another question, he said Indian movies were very popular in Russia. He also spoke of the country's pharmaceutical and automotive industries, and referred to "decisions" by India to "protect its own".
"But we are sure that if the Indian friends have this interest, we will find some common ground to promote Indian films to the Russian market," he added.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Russia on October 22-23 to attend the 16th BRICS Summit in Kazan.
Putin expressed concern over the situation in Gaza, and said Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has been invited to BRICS events.
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