Putin spoke at the BRICS summit via video link. Main

The second day of the BRICS summit is taking place in Johannesburg, South Africa. Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke via video link. “Vedomosti” collected the main thing from the statements of the head of state.

Putin recalled that BRICS opposes the policy of neo-colonialism and Western hegemony and supports the formation of a multipolar world. “I want to note that it was the desire of some countries to maintain their hegemony in the world that led to a severe crisis in Ukraine. First, with the help of Western countries, an unconstitutional coup d’état was carried out in this country, and then a war was unleashed against those people who did not agree with this coup d’etat – a brutal war of extermination, ”Putin explained.

“Our actions in Ukraine are dictated by only one thing – to put an end to the war that was unleashed by the West and their satellites in Ukraine,” the head of state said, noting that Russia decided to support people in the struggle for culture and the future.

Putin stressed that in 2024, when Moscow assumes the BRICS chairmanship, Russia will “interact in the most constructive way with its partners in the Five in order to further strengthen the role and authority of the BRICS, which will certainly only grow.” The President recalled that the BRICS summit next year will be held in Kazan, it is scheduled for October. Specific dates will be agreed upon, Putin added.

Among the main priorities of the BRICS Putin called the creation of new safe transport routes. He called for the creation of a permanent commission on transport, which would deal with logistics issues. “We believe that the time has come to establish a permanent commission on transport within the framework of BRICS, which would deal not only with the North-South project, but also, in a broader sense, with the development of logistics and transport corridors, interregional and global,” he said. .

The President of Russia called for expanding settlements in national currencies and interbank cooperation. He noted that Russia will contribute to “increasing the role of our states in the international monetary and financial system, developing interbank cooperation, expanding the use of national currencies and deepening interaction through tax, customs, and antimonopoly authorities.”

In addition, Putin expressed hope for intensified cooperation in the field of research and innovation. According to the head of state, a special trust fund could develop the global network of BRICS research infrastructures. “For its part, Russia is ready to share its accumulated experience and best practices, including in the field of digital transformation and the use of artificial intelligence,” he added.

The head of state also noted that Russia supports South Africa’s proposal to organize a separate meeting on women’s affairs at the ministerial level. “Role [женщин] in the political, economic and social life of our states should undoubtedly expand,” Putin stressed. He also expressed Russia’s readiness to take part in the work on nuclear medicine and help expand the circle of BRICS participants.

The BRICS summit (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) is being held from August 22 to 24 in Johannesburg (South Africa) in person for the first time in three years. Russia is represented by Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.