Vladimir Putin is hosting a summit in Kazan from October 22-24 with 24 foreign leaders, showcasing Russia’s alliances and countering Western sanctions post-Ukraine invasion. Key attendees include Xi Jinping, Narendra Modi, and Turkey’s Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The summit also plans to address ongoing conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon. Russia aims to present itself as not isolated and as a pivotal player in a multipolar world, despite facing international criticism and an ICC arrest warrant related to the war in Ukraine.
In a defiant move against Western sanctions, Vladimir Putin is set to host a summit from October 22 to 24, bringing together 24 foreign leaders. This gathering of allies and partners is an effort to showcase Russia’s strength and the ineffectiveness of Western attempts to isolate the country following its invasion of Ukraine.
The upcoming Brics summit, featuring a coalition of emerging nations, will include notable figures such as Chinese President Xi Jinping, Iranian President Massoud Pezeshkian, and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, taking place in Kazan on the scenic banks of the Volga River. The Kremlin is proudly declaring this event as ‘the most significant diplomatic occasion ever held in Russia’. Additionally, leaders like India’s Narendra Modi and Turkey’s Recep Tayyip Erdogan are expected to attend.
Discussions on Middle Eastern Conflicts
As Russia makes military progress in Ukraine, its alliances with major adversaries of the United States, including China, Iran, and North Korea, grow stronger. According to political analyst Konstantin Kalachev, the summit ‘aims to demonstrate that Russia is not isolated, but rather has a network of partners and allies.’
With Massoud Pezeshkian attending amidst rising tensions with Israel, discussions are anticipated to cover the ongoing wars in Gaza and southern Lebanon. However, Russia appears to be taking a cautious approach, mainly urging all parties involved to practice restraint.
A Landmark Gathering
Established in 2009 with four initial members—Brazil, China, India, and Russia—the Brics bloc expanded to include South Africa in 2010 and recently welcomed additional emerging nations, including Egypt and Iran. After having to skip the previous summit in South Africa due to an arrest warrant issued against him by the International Criminal Court in March 2023 concerning the deportation of Ukrainian children, Putin sees this home summit as crucial.
The Kremlin believes it is vital to showcase an alternative to Western dominance, emphasizing that ‘a multipolar world is a reality.’ According to Kalachev, Russia continues to portray its actions in Ukraine not as an act of territorial conquest but as a response to what it sees as American hegemony.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov remarked that Russia seeks relationships grounded in international law rather than regulations set by specific nations, especially the United States, insisting on the backing of ‘the overwhelming majority of countries’ globally.
In contrast, Western nations perceive Russia’s actions as attempts to exert control over its neighbors and impose a might-is-right mentality on the global stage. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has articulated that a success for Russia could set a dangerous precedent, stating that ‘if Putin achieves his insane goals—geopolitical, military, ideological, and economic—other potential aggressors may believe that wars of aggression could be advantageous.’